Orange-breasted Fruiteater
Pipreola jucunda
Plump, colorful bird of cloud forest in the western Andes. Male’s orange breast and black head make him easy to recognize. Female’s ID is more challenging: black feet and pale eyes separate her from female Green-and-black Fruiteater, and unstreaked chin from female Golden-breasted Fruiteater. Plucks berries at mid-levels in the forest; often found in pairs. Gives very high-pitched whistles, some very short and others long and drawn out.
Identification
The male orange-breasted fruiteater has a glossy black head and throat and green upper parts. The breast is bright orange and the belly yellow with green mottling at the side. The female is similar in appearance to the female masked fruiteater with green upper parts and green and yellow streaked underparts. Both sexes have yellow eyes, orange bill and greyish-green legs. This bird grows to a length of about 18 centimetres (7 in). The song is similar to that of the black-chested fruiteater, a high-pitched ascending "pseeeeeweet".
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pipreola jucunda
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1860
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Pipreola
Range and habitat
This species is native to the foothills and slopes of the western side of the Andes in South America. Its range extends from southwestern Colombia to southwestern Ecuador, mainly between the altitudes of 600 and 1,900 metres (2,000 and 6,200 ft) above sea level. This fruiteater is usually found in the understorey of dense, wet, mossy forests.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The orange-breasted fruiteater is sometimes seen in small flocks with other species. It feeds largely on fruit which it either eats while perching on a branch or while hovering rather clumsily. Cup-shaped nests have been found about 5 metres (16 ft) above the ground but little is known of this bird's breeding habits.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Festive Amazon
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McGregor's Cuckooshrike
Malindangia mcgregori
A medium-sized bird of lower- and mid-elevation montane mossy forest on Mindanao, where it often joins mixed-species flocks. Gray on the crown, back, rump, and upper tail; black on the forehead, face, and chest plus some wing and tail feathers; and white on the belly and shoulder, plus a long mark down the wing and outer tail feathers. Black parts are slightly duller in the female. Unmistakable. Voice includes whining squeals and harsh screeches.
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