Querula purpurata
The Purple-throated Fruitcrow (Querula purpurata) is a striking, medium-sized passerine bird of the Cotingidae family, renowned for its glossy black plumage and, in males, a spectacular, erectile, iridescent purplish-red throat patch. Measuring 28-30 cm (11-12 inches) in length and weighing between 120-170 grams, its stocky build and strong, conical bill are distinctive field marks. Females are uniformly dull black and lack the vibrant throat patch, exhibiting clear sexual dimorphism. Taxonom...
Humid lowland and foothill tropical rainforests, often along edges, gaps, and clearings, ranging from sea level up to 1200-1400 meters in elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of fruits, especially those from large-seeded trees like laurels (Lauraceae), palms (Arecaceae), and figs (Moraceae). It also supplements its diet with insects, obtained by gleaning foliage.
Purple-throated Fruitcrows are diurnal and highly social, often found in noisy groups of 3-10 individuals, sometimes associating with mixed-species flocks. Their primary foraging strategy involves gleaning fruits directly from trees, occasionally supplementing their diet with insects. Males engag...
The Purple-throated Fruitcrow is a resident species found throughout much of Central and northern South America, with no significant migratory movements. Its distribution spans eastern Panama, extending south through the Chocó region of western Colombia and Ecuador. Eastward, its range covers nor...
Least Concern
- The male's 'purple' throat patch isn't truly purple pigment, but rather iridescent structural color that reflects light in spectacular purplish-red hues. - Their deep, resonant, booming calls are famously frog-like, leading many inexperienced listeners to mistake a fruitcrow chorus for a group ...