Order: GALBULIFORMES
Family: BUCCONIDAE
It is a noisy bird that lives in the lowlands east of the Andes and, unlike other species of the genus, it forages more frequently in the understory. Its name Monasa derives from the Greek monas, monos = lonely. The epithet nigrifrons means black forehead and derives from the Latin roots niger = black and frons = forehead.
Description
It measures 26 to 29 cm and weighs 68 to 98 g. It has a red beak, dark iris, black legs, and a small, bare, dark area behind the eye. It has glossy black plumage, blacker around the bill and with a gray-blue back of the body. Its tail is black-blue in color, it has glossy black lower wing coverts. Immatures are dirty slate in color with irregular reddish markings.
Similar species
The White-fronted Nunbird (Monasa morphoeus) is distinguished by its white forehead, bridle and chin. The Yellow-billed Nunbird (Monasa flavirostris) has a yellow bill and white shoulders. Black Nunbird (Monasa atra) is also distinguished by white shoulders and wing coverts.
Regional Differences
Two subspecies M. n are recognized. nigrifrons and M. n. canescens. Only the nominal subspecies is found in Colombia.
Distribution
This species is found in southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, eastern Bolivia and Brazil. In Colombia it is found below 500 m above sea level east of the Andes from the west of Meta and Vaupés to the south.
Habitat
It inhabits forests along rivers and streams, marshy river islands, várzea forests, gallery forests and secondary mountains.
Feeding
It feeds on small lizards and arthropods, including butterflies, crickets, wasps, termites, spiders, cicadas and bedbugs.
Reproduction
Individuals in reproductive condition have been recorded in June in Caquetá and short-tailed juveniles with adults near Leticia in November. Its nest a hole is excavated in a bank of earth or on flat ground approximately 1.5 m deep and 7.6 cm in diameter with a pile of thick, rotten branches covering the entrance. The size of its position is 3 eggs whose incubation period has not been documented.
Behaviour
It remains alone, in pairs or in small groups from low levels of vegetation to the canopy. It perches silently and flies to the ground, foliage, or the air to capture prey. He frequently follows primate troops taking the opportunity to capture the insects that the monkeys make fly and on occasions he also follows marches of legionary ants. Small groups are commonly seen lined up on perches from which they sing.
Taxonomy
It forms a superspecies with M. atra and M. morphoeus.
Conservation status
In the international arena, it is considered a kind of minor concern.
Vocalization/ Song
https://www.xeno-canto.org/582804
References
Avibase. 2015. Monasa nigrifrons. Downloaded fromhttp://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=BB158D41AC6DECDD on 14/08/2015.
Hilty, S. L. y W. L. Brown. 2001. Guía de las Aves de Colombia. Princetn. Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ. 1030p.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 17 July 2015.
Jobling, C. 2010. The Helm dictionary of cientifics birds names. Christopher Helm and A & C Black Publishers Ltda. Londres. 433p.
Rasmussen, P. & N. Collar. Monasa nigrifrons. Pp 137 En: Del-Hoyo, J., Elliot, A. y Sardatal, J. 2002. Handbook of the Birds of the Wold. Vol 7. Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Lynx editions. Barcelona. 613p.
Remsen, J. V., Jr., C. D. Cadena, A. Jaramillo, M. Nores, J. F. Pacheco, J. Pérez-Emán, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, D. F. Stotz, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 7 December 2012. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithologists’ Union.
Skutch, A. 1948. Life history notes on Puff-Birds. The Willson Bulletin 69(2):81-97.
