Clover case-bearer vs Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan

Coleophora alcyonipennella compared with Andigena hypoglauca

Key Differences

• Clover case-bearer is Least Concern while Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clover case-bearer	Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Piciformes (Piciformes)
Family	Coleophoridae	Ramphastidae
Genus	Coleophora	Andigena
Species	Coleophora alcyonipennella	Andigena hypoglauca

Evolutionary Relationship

Clover case-bearer and Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Clover case-bearer

LC — Least Concern

Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clover case-bearer	Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Clover case-bearer

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Norway. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Clover case-bearer

The clover case-bearer (Coleophora alcyonipennella) is a small moth in the family Coleophoridae, order Lepidoptera. True to the family name, the larvae construct portable cases from plant material or silk and plant fragments, dragging these cases as they feed, a unique behavioral adaptation that provides both protection and concealment. C. alcyonipennella is a specialist herbivore of leguminous plants, with larvae feeding primarily on clover species (Trifolium) and related plants in the family Fabaceae. Larval feeding can cause characteristic window-feeding damage visible on leaves, and heavily infested plants may show significant defoliation. The adults are narrow-winged moths with wing markings typical of the coleophorid family, and like most coleophorids, they are small and inconspicuous. The species is distributed across temperate Europe, with documented occurrences in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, inhabiting diverse grassland, meadow, and agricultural habitats where its host plants are found. It is associated with both natural and semi-natural grasslands as well as agricultural fields and roadside verges. C. alcyonipennella is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with populations considered stable across its European range. The species has one generation per year in most of its range, with larvae overwintering in their portable cases before completing development in spring on expanding host plant foliage. Adults fly in summer.

Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan

Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway