Phrynonax poecilonotus is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae.

P. poecilonotus is commonly known in Trinidad and Tobago as dos cocorite, in Brazil as papa-ovo, and in English as the puffing snake or the bird snake.

[3] [4] P. poecilonotus apparently eats any terrestrial vertebrate small enough to handle and is well known as a predator of bird eggs (hence some of the common names).

For about the first year of their life, they look very dull in color, and even look all the same upon hatching.

The snakes can be combinations of black with red, orange, yellow, and/or lavender, or slate and red, yellow, orange, and/or lavender.