Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Overview

The purple-throated fruitcrow (Querula purpurata) is a species of cotinga that is the sole member of the genus Querula. It is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, although its population is believed to be decreasing. The species is a year-round resident found across Central and South America.

Identification

• Size: 25 to 30 cm long and weighs 91 to 133 g.
• Plumage: Adult males have glossy black upperparts and a dark reddish purple throat forming a shield; females are duller black without the shield.
• Features: Both sexes have a pale gray or silver gray bill with a black tip, and dusky gray to black legs and feet.
• Vocalisations: Songs include "a mellow, mewing, falling-rising COW-uh?" and calls described as "a raspy coughing or 'throat-clearing' sound".

Habitat

This bird inhabits lowland evergreen forest in the tropical zone, preferring the midstory to canopy layers. Its distribution is disjunct, covering parts of Central America, the Guianas, and the Amazon Basin, including specific regions in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. Elevation varies by region, typically ranging from sea level up to 1,400 m.

Diet

The species feeds primarily on fruit, while adults also consume large insects and nestlings are fed mostly on insects. Foraging is typically done in small groups of up to eight individuals that take food via short sallies from a perch. They are effective seed dispersers, regurgitating fruit seeds away from where they eat.

Did you know?

It is a cooperative breeder where unrelated adults contribute to provisioning the nest, and the social group helps defend the nest from predators. Males perform a courtship display by spreading their throat shield and shivering their tail.