| Russet-throated Puffbird | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Common Name | Bobito, Utta, Tol and Coludo |
| Range | South America in northeastern Colombia and much of Venezuela. |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Bucconidae |
| Genus | Hypnelus |
| Species | Hypnelus ruficollis |
| Conservation Status | |
 Least Concern | |
The Russet-throated puffbird (Hypnelus ruficollis), is a species of puffbird which breeds in tropical South America in northeastern Colombia and much of Venezuela. It is commonly named in Colombia as Bobito, Utta, Tol and Coludo.
The russet-throated puffbird is fairly common in dry scrub and dry forest. It excavates a burrow in an arboreal termite colony and lays three white eggs.
The russet-throated puffbird is typically 22 cm (8.7 in) long and weighs 50 g (1.8 oz). It is a dumpy bird with a large head, a long tail and a thick black hooked-tipped bill. The face is mainly white with a large yellow eye. The upperparts are brown with whitish spotting and white wing tips.
The underparts vary considerably. The two western subspecies have an off-white throat, buff underparts, and two dark brown chest bands. Some authorities split this genus into two species, the other being the two-banded puffbird, Hypnelus bicinctus. The three subspecies found in Colombia and in Venezuela east of the Andes" have a single breast band, a deep rufous throat and whitish or buff underparts.
This insectivore hunts from a perch, sitting and watching, then flying down to catch insects, lizards and other small prey.
The russet-throated puffbird's call is a long series of woduk notes, often given synchronously by a pair of birds.