A puffbird of Brazil's Caatinga. The ICMBio regional guide uses the English name Spot-backed Puffbird for the same scientific name.
It is about 18 cm long, with a large head and a stout red bill. The back is barred brown, a broad rufous band crosses the nape, and pale spots mark the belly and flanks.
It uses open dry habitats such as the Caatinga. Alone or in pairs, it waits on a perch and takes prey; the guide also reports nesting burrows in earthen banks.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.