Birds
Purple-throated Fruitcrow
Querula purpurata
Calling loudly to keep in contact with its social group, a purple-throated fruitcrow flashes an iridescent purple throat patch against glossy black plumage, one of the few cotinga-family birds known for cooperative breeding.
Overview
The purple-throated fruitcrow, Querula purpurata, is a Least Concern bird found across rainforest from Central America into northern South America. Its iridescent purple throat patch, loud contact calls, and unusual cooperative social groups set it apart from most of its more solitary cotinga-family relatives.
A cooperative cotinga
While many cotinga-family birds breed as solitary pairs, the purple-throated fruitcrow instead forms small social groups in which multiple birds share the work of raising young, a cooperative strategy uncommon within this otherwise behaviourally diverse family.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable rainforest habitat throughout its range from Central America into northern South America.
Purple-throated Fruitcrow: common questions
Why is it called the purple-throated fruitcrow?
Males show an iridescent purple patch on the throat, visible in the right light against otherwise glossy black plumage, a feature that gives the species its common name.
What is unusual about the purple-throated fruitcrow's social behaviour?
It lives in small cooperative social groups in which multiple birds help raise young together, an arrangement unusual among members of the cotinga family, which more typically breed as solitary pairs.
What does the purple-throated fruitcrow eat?
It is an omnivore, eating fruit and large insects foraged from forest canopy and mid-levels.
Where is the purple-throated fruitcrow found?
It ranges from Central America into northern parts of South America, favoring rainforest habitat.