Red-banded Fruiteater Pipreola whitelyi Scientific name definitions

The Red-banded Fruiteater is a much sought-after bird by birdwatchers visiting the pantepui region of South America, it being undoubtedly one of this region’s most spectacular endemics. On present knowledge, this fruiteater is considered to be confined to southeast Venezuela and adjacent Guyana, although the species has been reported, on the basis of undocumented and apparently erroneous reports, from northern Brazil. The species is perhaps most easily encountered along the famous Escalera road in Venezuela, where the Red-banded Fruiteater inhabits wet montane mossy and cloud forest, as well as more stunted dense secondary forest, always with a predominance of melastomes. Males are basically dull moss green above with grayish underparts, a contrasting orangey-red breast-band, and a bronze wash to the flight feathers. The female is much duller, being greenish over the upperparts, with heavily streaked underparts. The origin and relationships of this remarkable species, which exhibits a plumage quite unlike any of its congeners, have baffled biogeographers; its behavior and ecology too are poorly known.

16·5–17 cm. The most distinctive species in genus. Male nominate race has tawny-buff to rufous lowermost forehead, supercilium and cheek; rather dark greyish-green above, wings and tail contrastingly rufous-brown; red crescent-shaped band across chest, becoming tawny on neck side; rest of underparts grey, undertail-coverts ochre; iris orange-red; bill and legs red. Female is duller above than male, underparts entirely yellowish-white with blackish streaks, has yellowish eyes, duller bill and legs. Juvenile is conspicuously spotted on upperparts. Race <em>kathleenae</em> differs from nominate in having more extensive yellowish on forehead , female with blacker stripes below .

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Drawn-out, very high  and thin “pss-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee”  , c. 2–3 seconds long, given at long intervals; also high, thin “ti” notes, often in short series, when excited.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Tepuis EBA. Considered rare to uncommon, but is easily overlooked; in Venezuela, possibly most numerous on Cerro Ptari (race kathleenae). Much of its range is difficult of access, and not at present under threat. Occurs in Canaíma National Park , in Venezuela.