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.
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.
^"Cotingidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
The plantcutters are a group of passerine birds in the cotinga family, Cotingidae. They were previously in their own family, Phytotomidae. The three plantcutters...
The Peruvian plantcutter (Phytotoma raimondii) is an endangered species of bird in the family Cotingidae. As the other plantcutters, this species is sexually...
Phibalura - swallow-tailed cotinga Genus Phoenicircus Genus Phytotoma - plantcutters Genus Pipreola Genus Porphyrolaema - purple-throated cotinga Genus Procnias...
species have been recorded in Chile. White-tipped plantcutter, Phytotoma rutila (V) Rufous-tailed plantcutter, Phytotoma rara Order: Passeriformes Family:...
or wattles. Two species have been recorded in Uruguay. White-tipped plantcutter, Phytotoma rutila Red-ruffed fruitcrow, Pyroderus scutatus (V) Order:...
or wattles. Four species have been recorded in Paraguay. White-tipped plantcutter, Phytotoma rutila Swallow-tailed cotinga, Phibalura flavirostris Red-ruffed...
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