Red-ruffed Fruitcrow

About the Red-ruffed Fruitcrow

The red-ruffed fruitcrow (Pyroderus scutatus) is a species of bird in the monotypic genus Pyroderus. It belongs to the family Cotingidae, and is one of the largest passerines in South America. Its common names in Spanish include yacutoro, toropisco montañero, sangretoro, pájaro torero, and cuervo-frutero de garganta roja. This species was first named Coracias scutata by Shaw in 1792, but was later changed to the current scientific name. This species has five subspecies P. s. scutatus (Shaw, 1792), P. s. orenocensis (Lafresnaye, 1846), P. s. granadensis (Lafresnaye, 1846), P. s. masoni (Ridgway, 1886), P. s. occidentalis (Chapman, 1914).

It has a relatively heavy pale bluish bill, and the plumage is primarily black, but with a dull brown to bright orange-crimson patch on the throat depending on the subspecies, (thereby superficially resembling the smaller male purple-throated fruitcrow). Some subspecies have brown underparts. Males gather in loose leks where they call to attract the smaller, but otherwise similar, females.

Pyroderus scutatus scutatus is the nominated subspecies with a glossy black back with some iridescence. A crimson patch... Wikipedia →