The Story
I photographed this Russet-throated Puffbird (Hypnelus ruficollis) at the Charca de Guarinocito, near La Dorada, Caldas, Colombia, in February 2020. It is thought to stay in the same area all year. Its song is a series of rhythmic ‘woduk’ notes that build for up to 20 seconds and then fade, usually given at dawn and often by both members of a pair. In Venezuela it has been recorded only up to 700 meters. Its population has not been counted, but its large range is believed to be stable. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600. People living around the lagoon see the birds as an attraction for visitors and do not allow them to be hunted.
©2020 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Russet-throated Puffbird (Hypnelus ruficollis) belongs to the family Bucconidae (Puffbirds) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2024), with the population trend listed as stable. Source: IUCN Red List