Barred Fruiteater

Overview

The barred fruiteater, Pipreola arcuata, is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN but is considered uncommon overall, with a population that is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Males feature an entirely black head, neck, and upper breast, while females have an olive-green head.
• Both sexes possess yellow underparts with crisp black bars, and scarlet legs and feet.
• Measuring 22 to 23 cm in length, they have a crimson bill, sometimes with a black tip, and irises that range from red, orange, yellow, to chestnut.
• The song consists of high, thin rising whistles followed by descending whistles, often in loose series.

Habitat

Found in the interior and edges of montane forests, including cloud forest, within the temperate zone across a disjunct range in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It typically inhabits elevations between 1,800 and 3,500 m, varying by region.

Diet

The barred fruiteater is believed to feed exclusively on fruit, though specific details are lacking. It forages singly, in pairs, or in small groups, predominantly in the mid-levels and above of the forest canopy, and rarely joins mixed-species feeding flocks.

Did you know?

Despite being a fruiteater, this species is unique among its genus in that both males and females exhibit barred breasts. It also tends to sit sluggishly for long periods rather than being constantly active.