Fiery-throated fruiteater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fiery-throated fruiteater |
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Pipreola
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| Species: |
chlorolepidota
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The fiery-throated fruiteater (Pipreola chlorolepidota) is a colorful bird found in the forests of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It belongs to the Cotingidae family, which includes many bright and unique birds. This bird lives in warm, wet forests, both in lowlands and on mountains. Sadly, its home is shrinking because of habitat destruction, making it a less common sight.
What Does It Look Like?
The fiery-throated fruiteater is the smallest bird in its group, measuring only about 12.5 cm (5 in) long. That's about the size of a small smartphone!
The male bird is very striking. Its head and upper body are a bright green. The tips of its wing feathers are white, which adds a nice touch. Its throat and chest are a fiery orangish-red, which stands out against its green belly. The middle of its belly has a hint of yellow.
The female bird looks a bit different. Her upper body is also green, like the male's. But her chest is green, and her belly has green and yellow stripes.
Both male and female birds have pale grey eyes. Their beaks are pinkish-orange with a dark tip, and their legs are orange.
You might confuse this bird with the scarlet-breasted fruiteater. However, the fiery-throated fruiteater is smaller. Also, the male scarlet-breasted fruiteater has less green on its belly.
Where Does It Live?
The fiery-throated fruiteater makes its home in the humid tropical forests. These forests are found on the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains.
Its range stretches from southern Colombia, through Ecuador, and into northern Peru. It usually lives at heights between 600 to 1,200 metres (2,000 to 3,900 ft) above sea level. That's like living high up in the mountains! Sometimes, it has been seen even higher, around 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), in places like Cerros del Sira in the Ucayali Region of Peru.
Is It in Danger?
The forests where the fiery-throated fruiteater lives are facing many challenges. People are clearing these forests for different reasons. Farmers need land for tea and coffee plants, and for raising cattle. Loggers cut down trees for wood, and miners look for valuable minerals. Oil explorers also need land for their work.
Because of all this activity, the fiery-throated fruiteater is not very common. It lives in scattered areas across its wide range. Experts believe that its numbers are going down in many places.
However, there's good news too! This bird lives in the Sangay National Park in Ecuador. This park helps protect the natural forest, which is great for the birds and other wildlife. Because of this protection, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the fiery-throated fruiteater as a species of "least concern." This means it's not currently in immediate danger of disappearing, but it still needs our help to protect its home.
