Green-and-black Fruiteater
Pipreola riefferii
Chunky, short-tailed, flat-headed bird patterned in green and black. Male has black head and breast, yellow belly with messy green streaks, and green upperparts. Female is almost all green. On both sexes, note red bill and legs and dark eye. Fairly common in forested habitats in the subtropical and temperate zone. Perches quietly in the middle levels of the forest, often following a mixed-species flock. Usually in pairs, but several can gather around a fruiting tree. Listen for super-high-pitched song, a series of tinkling notes sometimes followed by a long, thin “seeee.”
Identification
The green-and-black fruiteater is a plump, stocky bird with a length of about 18 cm (7 in). The adult male has a black head, throat and chest glossed with green and mid-green upper parts, with pale tips to the tertial feathers of the wings. There is a yellow rim to the dark chest and the underparts are otherwise yellowish, usually mottled or streaked with green. The female is similar to the male apart from the replacement of the black areas by green, and the absence of the yellow necklace. In both sexes, the iris of the eye is reddish-brown, and the legs and bill are orangish-red. The song is a high-pitched "ts-s-s-s-s-s-s" lasting for a few seconds, slowing and sometimes fading as it winds down.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pipreola riefferii
- Authority
- (Boissonneau, 1840)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Pipreola
Range and habitat
P. riefferii is native to the lower and mid-level mountain forests on the eastern side of the Andes in South America. Its range extends from southern Venezuela to northern Peru and its altitudinal range is between 1,500 and 2,700 m (4,900 and 8,900 ft) above sea level. This species is more often seen in small flocks than some other fruiteaters.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Calidris subruficollis
Elegant buffy sandpiper; peaceful-looking with large eye and plain face. Relatively short bill and medium-length yellow legs. Adults and juveniles similar, but juveniles show crisp scaly back pattern. Similar to Baird's Sandpiper but longer yellow legs and more evenly buffy coloration extending onto the belly. Smaller than Upland Sandpiper and lacks extensive dark markings on face, neck, and sides. Breeds on Arctic tundra. During migration, found in dry habitats such as plowed fields, sod farms, and higher areas of beaches. Winters in South America.
Orange-chinned Parakeet
Brotogeris jugularis
Small, fast-flying parakeet of humid lowlands; restricted to the Pacific slope in the northern parts of its range. Favors forest patches and fairly open country with hedges and tall trees, including towns and villages. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks; associates readily at fruiting and flowering trees with much larger and longer-tailed Orange-fronted Parakeet. Flight is distinctively bounding, not direct like larger parakeets. Plumage is green overall with bronzy shoulders; small orange chin patch is very hard to see.
Glittering-bellied Emerald
Chlorostilbon lucidus
Small green hummingbird found in a variety of open and semiopen habitats, such as forest edges, deserts, savannas, and gardens. Visits feeders. Iridescent green body with a forked dark blue tail and dark wings. Males have a black-tipped red bill with a blue throat, while females have a white belly, black mask, and a black bill with a red base.
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