White-necked Puffbird

The White-necked Puffbird occurs in both western and eastern Ecuador, where it inhabits lowland and foothill forests, forest edges, and semi-open woodlands from sea level up to about 1,200 meters. Though generally uncommon, it is locally present in suitable habitat, often seen perched motionless in the mid-canopy, scanning for large insects and small vertebrates. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad Neotropical range and a global population estimated between 500,000 and 5 million mature individuals, though its numbers are thought to be slowly declining. Natural history observations highlight its sit-and-wait hunting strategy, use of tree cavities for nesting, and preference for semi-open environments including secondary forest and plantations.