The white-faced nunbird is a species of puffbird in the family Bucconidae. Its genus ''Hapaloptila'' is monotypic. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Similar species: Woodpeckers, Barbets, Toucans
By Thibaud Aronson
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Uploaded Feb 5, 2021. Captured Jan 21, 2021 10:40 in Fernando Belaunde Km 365.5, 01160, Peru.
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Puffbirds (the generic term for the family Bucconidae) are always rare and hard to track down because they move so little, and this one is one of the few members of that family that makes it up into the Andes.
The Owlet Lodge is the best place to see this species in Peru because they regularly nest in the earthen banks on the sides of their old trails. But I was about three months too late for nesting season, so was reduced to just looking for them in the trees. It was my last day there, we were almost back at the lodge, and I'd essentially given up on seeing them, when I suddenly spotted one right by the side of the path, a caterpillar in its bill. I barely got a photo before it quickly flew up, but then my guide whispered for me to look to my right. Sure enough, its partner (both sexes are identical, so I don't know who was Mrs. and who was Mr.) was sitting on a branch just a couple meters above the trail, looking calmly at us. I took about forty photos without it moving a muscle, and then we actually had to walk directly below it, bowing the whole way (it felt appropriately reverential). It still didn't move so I was able to get another 40 photos from this better angle. We then realized that there was a fresh hole by the path, about 500 meters from the usual nesting site! Perhaps the other bird was even waiting to deliver its caterpillar to a waiting chick inside. We didn't want to bother them more so we left them in peace, with both of them still looking at us from their perches.
An absolutely stunning encounter and of all the great birds I saw on that trip, this was the one that came closest to bringing tears of joy and wonder to my eyes. Posted 4 years ago, modified 3 years ago