Purple-throated Fruitcrow
Querula purpurata
Large, mostly black bird found in the canopy of lowland forests. Male has wine-colored throat that can be puffed out expressively, but is often difficult to see in poor light. The overall dark color, stout silvery bill, and chunky proportions help identify this bird even at a distance. Also listen for the distinctive purring whistles, “prr-woop, prr-woop.” Typically found in small vocal groups that parade through the canopy, sometimes following mixed-species flocks. Compare with umbrellabirds, which are larger, have a puffy crest, and are much less vocal.
Identification
It is a stout medium-sized glossy-black bird. Males have a large purple-red upper throat patch, (similar to the gorget of the hummingbirds), extending to the side of the neck. It has a short wide pointed grayish bill, black eyes, and gray legs.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Querula purpurata
- Authority
- (Müller, PLS, 1776)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Querula
Range and habitat
It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela; also in southern Central America in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.<p>The purple-throated fruitcrow ranges across northern South America, with populations west of the Andes cordillera extending into Central America to Nicaragua. It goes from the Guianas and Maranhão state, northeastern Brazil in the east, and throughout the Amazon basin to the Andes foothills in the west; it is only absent in the Amazon Basin in the northeast and north central bordering the Guiana Highlands and southern Venezuela; otherwise the range is contiguous east of the Andes. Its population trend is thought to be downwards but it is a common species with a very wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Despite its name, the purple-throated fruitcrow feeds on insects as well as fruit, moving through the forest canopy in small chattering groups. It also nests colonially, with little attempt to hide the nests which are rendered more conspicuous by the noisy group of birds nearby.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Mariana Kingfisher
Todiramphus albicilla
A medium-sized, very pale kingfisher. Body and head mostly clean white, sometimes with a light green cap and cheek, and with a black eye-stripe extending around behind the head. Bill is black with a yellow lower base. Wings are bluer than the green back and tail. Found in most habitats, but prefers coastal forest. Voice little known, but reported to be a series of loud barking calls.
Brown Nunlet
Nonnula brunnea
Small puffbird found in in lowland rainforest east of the Andes in Ecuador, northern Peru, and southern Colombia. It has brown upperparts, buffy underparts, and a thin orange eye-ring. The bill is impressively large compared to the overall size of the bird, with long bristles at the base. It inhabits lower to middle levels of the forest, where it perches quietly before sallying out after prey. Typical song is a series of ten or more soft, mellow whistles.
Golden Masked-Owl
Tyto aurantia
A little-known golden-buff barn-owl from New Britain. Note the dark heart-shaped border to the rich buff face. Underparts golden-buff with bold dark spots. Crown, nape, and upperparts darker, heavily blotched with black markings, buff areas, and white spotting. Inhabits forests both in lowlands and hills, but also recorded from plantations. Barn Owl also occurs, but note Golden Masked-Owl’s significantly darker upperside, golden-buff coloration, and bold spotting underneath. Vocalizations not confirmed, but wheezes, a long rising whistle, and a “ka-ka” have been reported.
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