Black-chested Fruiteater
Pipreola lubomirskii
Scarce fruiteater found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes in Ecuador, southern Colombia, and northern Peru. Male has a solid black hood that is not bordered by yellow on the neck. Female is mostly green with yellow streaking on her belly. Yellow eyes and dark legs are also useful features in both sexes to separate them from similar species. Feeds on berries at middle to upper levels in the forest. Gives very high-pitched whistles, some very short and others long and drawn out.
Identification
Fruiteaters are stocky birds with short tails and short tarsi (lower legs). The black-chested fruiteater is a medium-size fruiteater with a length of 18 cm (7.1 in). The male has a black head, throat and upper breast. The upper parts of the body are bright green and the underparts yellowish-green with mottling on the flanks. The female lacks the black head region and has a bright green back, throat and cheat and underparts streaked with yellow and green. The iris is yellow in both sexes, the beak pinkish-orange and the legs greenish-grey. This species could be confused with the green-and-black fruiteater (Pipreola riefferii), but the latter species has pale barring on the tertial wing feathers, and a yellow border to the black chest in the male. The song is a faint, high-pitched ascending whistle "tseeeeeeweee", and there are further short, rising and falling, whistling calls.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pipreola; Family: Cotingidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Pipreola lubomirskii
- Authority
- Taczanowski, 1879
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Pipreola
Range and habitat
The black-chested fruiteater is native to the Andean region of South America. Its range extends on the eastern side of the Andes from southern Colombia, through Ecuador, to northern Peru; it is found in montane forests and its altitudinal range is 1,500 to 2,300 m (4,900 to 7,500 ft). It also occurs as separate populations locally on the western side of the Andes at Cajamarca and in the south of Marañón Province.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Rufous-tailed Robin
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