Sira Barbet Capito fitzpatricki Scientific name definitions

The Sira Barbet, only described to science in 2012, is a poorly known species that has been observed by ornithologists just a handful of times. It is found only on the southern slopes of the Cerros del Sira mountains in east-central Peru. Currently, its known range is only about 300 km², though it is predicted to have a range of around 700 km². Consequently, BirdLife International treats the Sira Barbet as Near Threatened. It inhabits the canopy of moss-laden cloud forests, where if forages slowly through the branches, in typical barbet fashion. The cap and nape are scarlet, while a broad white supercilium that separates the crown from the black ear coverts. Most of the upperparts are black, except for a central yellow stripe and a white rump patch. Below, the throat and upper breast are white, bordered below by a broad scarlet band that extends down the sides of the breast, unlike the closely related Scarlet-banded Barbet. The remaining underparts are yellow to whitish. Its nest and eggs remain unknown, and most aspects of its natural history are poorly studied.