Band-tailed Fruiteater
Pipreola intermedia
Chunky green bird with coral red bill and legs. Males have a black hood, a yellow collar, and a green body with a scaled pattern underneath; females are entirely green with a similar scaly belly pattern, and typically a complete yellow eye-ring. Found singly or in pairs in montane forest. Similar but slightly larger than Green-and-black Fruiteater, which lacks the black terminal tail band and white tail tips of Band-tailed. Male Band-taileds are also typically more heavily patterned underneath than that species, and females have a more prominent eye-ring.
Identification
The band-tailed fruiteater grows to a length of about 19 cm (7 in). The adult male has a black head glossed with green, and a black bib. The bib is surrounded by a bright yellow margin. The upper parts of the body are mid-green, and there are black, chevron-shaped markings on the flanks. The tail has a green base, a black band and a whitish tip. The underparts are yellowish, mottled or streaked with green. The female resembles the male but lacks the glossy black head, the black bib and the yellow collar, and the black bar on the tail may be fainter. Both male and female have a yellow iris and a red beak and legs. This bird is very similar to the green-and-black fruiteater but that species is smaller, the bib is suffused with green and the yellow area surrounding it is less distinct.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pipreola intermedia
- Authority
- Taczanowski, 1884
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Pipreola
Range and habitat
This is a bird of the mountain forests clothing the eastern flanks of the Andes in South America. Its range extends from central Peru to western Bolivia, generally at altitudes from 2,300 to 3,000 metres (7,500 to 9,800 ft). At the southern end of its range it may be found at lower altitudes. It is usually present at higher elevations than the green-and-black fruiteater.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Large Frogmouth
Batrachostomus auritus
Sizeable nightbird with deep black eyes and wispy pale whiskers above its eyes that give it the appearance of a distinguished professor. Warm, pale, brown overall with bright white spots on the wings. Despite its size, this lowland rainforest giant can be cryptic and difficult to find; roosts under cover by day and hunts from a perch by night. Favors undisturbed primary forest, but also occasionally in disturbed areas. Song is a mellow rolling tremolo; calls include barks and screeches.
Olive-green Tyrannulet
Phylloscartes virescens
Small, uncommon flycatcher of rainforest canopy. Plain, inconspicuous, and unobtrusive; occurs in tall forest, especially on sandy soils, and may also be found in shorter-stature forest on similar soil types. Almost always seen with mixed-species flocks, and usually from below, whereby it is best distinguished from other small flycatchers by longish bill and (especially) long tail held slightly cocked. If seen from above, note long-tailed shape and bold wing bars. Feeds actively on insects taken in short sallies to leaf clusters. Easily-overlooked call is a sharp, inflected squeak, often run into an erratic series. More active and narrower-billed than Gray-crowned and Yellow-margined flycatchers, which have similar shape and posture and often occur with it in flocks.
Bell's Vireo
Vireo bellii
A fairly drab vireo of dense, scrubby vegetation, often near water. Two populations: Eastern birds are brighter, with yellow flanks and olive-green back. Note vague spectacled pattern around eye and one bright white wingbar (sometimes with a fainter upper wingbar). Western birds vary from dull olive above to entirely plain gray, usually with one bright wingbar. Look for long tail, often cocked and flipped around. Very active, flitting around nervously in low bushes and thickets. Listen for fast, scratchy song and harsh scold notes. Compare with the brighter and more contrasty White-eyed Vireo, especially in the East, and with the larger and plainer Gray Vireo in the West.
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