Plantcutter

The plantcutters are a group of passerine birds in the cotinga family, Cotingidae. They were previously in their own family, Phytotomidae. The three plantcutters are all placed in the genus Phytotoma.

Plantcutters
Rufous-tailed plantcutter (Phytotoma rara)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cotingidae
Genus: Phytotoma
Molina, 1782
Type species
Phytotoma rara[1]
Molina, 1782
Species
  • see text

These are robust birds of open woodland, scrub and farmland in southern and western South America. They resemble finches, and are among the few primarily folivorous birds, though they also take some fruits, berries and flowers. The common name is a reference to their stubby bills with fine serrations along the cutting edge – an adaptation for cutting plant material.

They are sexually dichromatic, with males having black wings with white patches, and at least partially rufous underparts. The plumage of the females is greyish-white or brownish-white with dense dark streaking throughout.

These pair-living birds lay 2 - 4 brown-spotted green eggs in a tree nest. Only the female incubates, but both sexes participate in the nest-building and feeding of the chicks. The chicks are fed almost exclusively with insects.

Species

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Phytotoma rutilaWhite-tipped plantcutter or reddish plantcutterlowlands east of the Andes
Phytotoma raraRufous-tailed plantcutter or Chilean plantcutterChile and western Argentina
Phytotoma raimondiiPeruvian plantcutternorth-western Peru

References

  1. "Cotingidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  • Fitzpatrick, J. W. (2004). Plantcutters (Phytotoma). pp. 73–74 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Christie, D. A. eds. (2004). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 9. Cotingas to Wagtails. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-69-5


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