The Polylepis-specialist Giant Conebill was first registered in Chile a few years ago and recently has been discovered nesting in the Tarapaca Region within a bosque of  Polylepis rugulosa.  This bird in the photo was one of a pair noisily foraging in a Queñua copse (Polylepis tarapacana) at about 4,400 meters above sea level within the Reserva Nacional Las Vicuñas in northern Chile.  Note the cellophane-like layers of reddish bark which help insulate the tree against the frigid temperatures of the altiplano, and which harbor a quantity of insects for the conebill.  Please refer to our resources page for more information about the deforestation of Polylepis in the altiplano.

© Photo copyright Barbara Knapton