Hooded Berryeater Carpornis cucullata Scientific name definitions

The larger and more robust-bodied of the two berryeater species, the distinctive and beautifully-plumaged Hooded Berryeater is still relatively common and easily seen, at least locally, due to the presence of large areas of intact forest in the foothills and mountains of its southeast Brazilian haunts. Furthermore, the species is easy to locate due to its loud and very distinctive song, which gives rise to its main, onomatopoeic local name, the coró-cochó. Another regional name, the cavalo-frouxou, which translates as “cowardly horse”, is much more difficult to interpret. The sexes are generally very similar in their plumage, but females are duller, especially over the mantle. A significant part of the distribution of the Hooded Berryeater lies to the south of that of the much rarer Black-headed Berryeater (Carpornis melanocephala). However, there is an extensive area of overlap in coastal eastern Brazil, but within this region the two species are almost entirely altitudinally parapatric, with the present species almost exclusively occurring above 400 m.

22·5–23 cm; male 73·5–80g, three females 67–84·4 g. Well-marked cotingid with rather long, square-cut tail. Male has black hood extending to hindneck and chest, narrow yellow hindcollar; back  rather dark brown with chestnut tinge, rump and uppertail-coverts dull greenish-olive; wings and tail blackish with olive-green edgings, buffish-yellow tips of greater  and median wing-coverts forming two wingbars; underparts from breast downwards yellow; iris dark brown, occasionally blue or fiery red; bill and legs mostly blue, grey-blue or violet-blue. Differs from <em>C. melanocephala</em> in upperpart colour , lack of barring below, also narrower and less dorso-ventrally compressed bill, relatively longer tail. Female  is duller than male, head and body  suffused or scaled with olive, more olive on wings and tail. Immature resembles female, but black on head even less developed, wing-coverts green (not blackish with green edges), throat and breast duller yellow and more barred.

SE Brazil from C Espírito Santo S to Rio Grande do Sul.

Humid lowland and montane forest , also palm groves; occurs at altitudinal range of 400–1600 m.

No information; probably sedentary.

Mainly soft fruits  ; occasionally also large insects. Fruits  on average of smaller size than those taken by C. melanocephala; in study at Intervales (São Paulo), fruits of 45 plant species (of 15 families) recorded in diet, average size 10·3 mm (range 4·2–22·3 mm). Usually solitary.

Male territorial call a stereotyped 4-syllable phrase, soft and mellow, “wo-op, wot-chuí”; both sexes make inward, grating notes.

No relevant information available. Data from moult, presumably post-breeding, suggest laying in Sept–Oct.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Atlantic Forest Lowlands EBA. Poorly known species. Apparently rather uncommon throughout range, but this possibly due, at least in part, to its inconspicuous behaviour. Favours primary forest and sensitive to fragmentation, particularly shunning smaller-sized forest patches (1 Uezu, A., Metzger, J.P. and Vielliard, J.M.E. (2005). Effects of structural and functional connectivity and patch size on the abundance of seven Atlantic Forest bird species. Biological Conservation. 123: 507–519. Close ).  In N of range, majority of suitable habitat in lowlands already destroyed, and species is now almost confined to montane forest. However, relatively large areas of montane forest remain, much of which is either publicly or privately protected (2 Kirwan, G. M., and G. Green (2011). Cotingas and Manakins. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Occurs in several protected areas, including e.g. Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve and Intervales and Serra do Mar State Parks. Main threats are continued agricultural expansion, human colonization and urbanization, and associated road-building. Appears to be a key species in maintaining ecological networks in Atlantic Forests (3 Vidal, M.M., Hasui, E., Pizo, M.A., Tamashiro, J.Y., Silva, W.R. and Guimarães Jr, P.R. (2014). Frugivores at higher risk of extinction are the key elements of a mutualistic network. Ecology. 95(12): 3440-3447. Close ).