Buff-bellied Puffbird vs Rusty-breasted Nunlet

The Buff-bellied Puffbird and Rusty-breasted Nunlet are both puffbirds but can be distinguished by their plumage and habitat preferences. The Buff-bellied Puffbird has a distinctive buff-colored belly, whereas the Rusty-breasted Nunlet is more uniformly brown with a pale rufous underside.

Look for the buff belly of the Buff-bellied Puffbird and the pale rufous belly of the Rusty-breasted Nunlet. Note habitat: Buff-bellied Puffbird in clearings, Rusty-breasted Nunlet in dense undergrowth.

Both species are similar in size, typical of small puffbirds.

The Buff-bellied Puffbird has a buff-colored belly and a contrasting black head and back. In contrast, the Rusty-breasted Nunlet is largely dull brown above with a pale rufous belly and a pale supraloral stripe.

Both species are sit-and-wait predators, often perching quietly while hunting for insects and small vertebrates.

The Buff-bellied Puffbird is found in lowland forests and often ventures into clearings, while the Rusty-breasted Nunlet prefers dense undergrowth in humid forests.