Giant Conebill Conirostrum binghami

The Giant Conebill (Oreomanes fraseri) is a high-elevation Polylepis forest specialist restricted to the central and northern Andes upward of 4500 m. Identifiable by its unique scansorial foraging behavior, the Giant Conebill has a round body, sharp pointed beak, dark gray-blue back, chestnut underparts, and large white variable cheek patches. This insectivorous passerine inconspicuously probes among the various layers of Polylepis bark, and also nests within Polylepis trees, underlining the strong tie between this species and its patchily distributed habitat.