Where do puffbirds make their nesting burrows?

Puffbirds (family Bucconidae) excavate their nesting burrows in a few specific types of locations. They typically dig these tunnels into the ground, or they may construct them within termite nests located either on the ground or in trees.123

When nesting in the ground, the tunnels are often quite deep, sometimes reaching a metre or more in length. While some species leave the nest chamber unlined, others may line it with materials such as dead leaves or grass. Additionally, some species, such as the white-whiskered puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis), are known to conceal the entrance to their burrow by piling sticks and leaves at the mouth of the tunnel.21