Notharchus

Bold puffbirds that have a taste for feisty army ants

These black-and-white puffbirds are found in the tropical humid forests and woodlands of Central and South America.

Like all other puffbirds, they are carnivorous. Their varied diet consists of insects, small vertebrates, and a small amount of vegetable matter. Many follow swarms of army ants for their foraging. The common strategy is to wait on their perches, dive at prey, and bring the prey back to the perch to beat it before eating.

They are monogamous and show biparental care. Both males and females excavate a burrow for their nests. Information on clutch size and incubation is limited, ranging between 2-3 eggs per clutch.