Giant Conebill
A species of Giant Conebill Scientific name : Conirostrum binghami Genus : Giant Conebill
Giant Conebill, A species of Giant Conebill
Botanical name: Conirostrum binghami
Genus: Giant Conebill
Content
Description
Photo By Dubi Shapiro
Description
The giant conebill (Conirostrum binghami) is a small passerine bird, one of the tanager family. It is closely related to the regular conebills Conirostrum though it differs in its larger size and nuthatch-like foraging habits. The giant conebill is 15 centimetres (5.9 in) in length and weighs 22–27 grams (0.78–0.95 oz). It is grey above, deep chestnut below, and with a white patch on the cheeks. It is found in the Andes from Colombia to Ecuador, and Peru to Bolivia. It lives in Polylepis trees of the family Rosaceae. The giant conebill lives individually or in groups of 5 or less. It peels bark off Polylepis trees to find insects. It also eats aphids and sugary solutions secreted by Gynoxys. The species is a seasonal breeder, nesting at the start of the rainy season (September to December in Bolivia where it has been studied). The nest is an open cup set on the branches of Polylepis, and the average clutch size is 1.8 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs, feed the chicks and remove the fecal sacs. Its decline is attributed to the destruction and fragmentation of Polylepis woodland.
Size
16 cm
Habitat
The habitat of giant Conebill is specialized, primarily occurring in Polylepis woodlands, which are unique high-elevation forests that form isolated patches amidst diverse landscapes such as paramo, grasslands, or shrub communities across the Andean region of South America. These woodlands feature mature Polylepis trees that can be adorned with mosses and epiphytic mistletoes, providing a complex environment. Giant Conebill shows a preference for the interior of these forests rather than the edges, favoring areas with older trees, and inhabiting an ecosystem that is both discontinuous and under threat.
Dite type
Insectivorous
Photo By Dubi Shapiro
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Tanagers Genus
Giant Conebill Species
Giant Conebill