Rusty-breasted Nunlet

About the Rusty-breasted Nunlet

The rusty-breasted nunlet (Nonnula rubecula) is a species of near-passerine bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and possibly French Guiana.

Taxonomists recognize the seven subspecies of rusty-breasted nunlet listed below. However, the species' taxonomy is unsettled. Some of the subspecies might be species in their own right, some might not be valid at all as separate taxa, and the nominate subspecies might actually represent two subspecies or species.

N. r. tapanahoniensis Mees (1968) N. r. duidae Chapman (1914) N. r. interfluvialis Parkes (1970) N. r. simulatrix Parkes (1970) N. r. cineracea Sclater, PL (1881) N. r. simplex Todd (1937) N. r. rubecula Spix (1824) The rusty-breasted nunlet is 14 to 16 cm (5.5 to 6.3 in) long and weighs 17 to 20 g (0.60 to 0.71 oz). The subspecies vary in structure and color from each other. In general, the more northerly subspecies have a longer and narrower bill and a shorter tail than the more southerly ones.

The nominate subspecies has what amounts to two or three color... Wikipedia →