PERUVIAN PLANTCUTTER (Phytotoma raimondii)

type size: [A] [A] [A]

Description: The Peruvian plantcutter is a songbird that can be found in the agricultural regions of Peru and neighboring countries of South America. It is a plump-looking bird with finch-like features and rounded tail feathers. They have a rounded bill with a jagged edge that allows them to prune and eat leaves and shoots. Their distinctive mechanical calls are well-known to farmers who treat them as crop pests. They have a very small and fragmented range, and remaining habitat is rapidly being destroyed.

IUCN Status: Endangered
Major Threat: Habitat loss and fragmentation
Habitat: Deciduous dry forest
Location: Coastal north Peru and neighboring countries
Diet: Leaves of Prosopis trees, shrubs and fruit