Black nunbird

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Black nunbird (Monasa atra)

The black nunbird is a medium-sized bird in the puffbird family. It lives in northern South America, including Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela (north of the Amazon River and east of the Rio Negro). It may also occur in eastern Colombia. The species is monotypic (no subspecies).

Appearance: It is about 25–29 cm long and weighs 74–104 g. Adults have glossy blue‑black upperparts and dark gray to light gray underparts. A white band appears on the wings due to white lesser coverts. The bill is red, and the eyes are red to brown. Legs are slaty black. Immature birds are a bit duller, with sootier upperparts and browner underparts.

Habitat: It lives in humid forests such as terra firme, gallery, and várzea forests, usually along edges near water and in somewhat open areas. It can be found from sea level up to about 1,000 m in elevation.

Behavior and diet: The black nunbird hunts by perching and then flying out to catch prey (sallies). Its diet includes insects, spiders, other invertebrates, and small vertebrates like lizards. It sometimes follows army ant swarms to feed.

Breeding: In Venezuela it breeds from March to May, and in French Guiana from August to September. In the Manaus region of Brazil, it appears to nest twice a year. Nests are holes in level ground.

Vocalizations: Its song is described as flute-like “whoo-doo-doo” and a descending “hyoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo-oo.” Calls include a loud “yawkl-diddl” or “quee-didada.”

Conservation: The IUCN lists the black nunbird as Least Concern. It has a very large range, and while the exact population isn’t known, it’s believed to be stable and is common in much of its range.