BIRD SPECIES

Fiery-throated Fruiteater

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Pipreola chlorolepidota

The Fiery-throated Fruiteater is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is the smallest species in the genus Pipreola.

It is small, it is just about 5 inches long.

Adult males have a bright green head and upper parts except for the tips of the tertial wing feathers which are white. Throat and chest are bright orangish-red, contrasting with the rest of the underparts which are green, the midbelly being tinged with yellow.

Adult females' upperparts are similar to those of the males. Breast is green and belly is barred with green and yellow.

In both sexes, the iris is pale gray, the beak pinkish-orange with a dark tip, and the legs orange.

This bird might be confused with the Scarlet-breasted fruiteater but that species is larger and the belly of the male is less green.

Feed on various fruits, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks.

Found in moist tropical forests, at altitudes of 600 - 1,200 meters.

Range extends from southern Colombia, through Ecuador to northern Peru.

She lays 2 creamy white eggs with dark brown spots which she incubates alone for 17 - 22 days.