[2] It is closely related to the black-breasted puffbird (N. pectoralis) and some authors have proposed that they form a superspecies.

It crown, nape, upperparts, and a thin line from the gape to the eye are a slightly glossy black.

The few observations suggest that it hunts like others of its genus, sallying from a perch to catch insects or pluck them from vegetation.

[5] The one described nest of the brown-banded puffbird was a cavity in an arboreal termitarium about 4.5 m (15 ft) up in a mostly bare tree; both sexes excavated it.

The brown-banded puffbird's song is "lengthy, with several clear, loud introductory whistles followed by cadenced couplets and triplets.