Banded Cotinga
Cotinga maculata
Jaw-droppingly beautiful bird. Males are cobalt-blue and purple, while females are dusky brown above with white scaling and buff below with dark spots. Females are similar to other cotingas, but there is no overlap in range. Found in the canopy of disappearing patches of humid forest in eastern Brazil. Usually silent.
Identification
Birds are around 20 cm long, and males are a bright blue with a black spotted back. The throat and belly are bright purple with a blue band across the chest. Females are a dull brown with some white mottling. The primaries are modified to produce a slight whir during display.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cotinga maculata
- Authority
- (Müller, PLS, 1776)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Cotinga
Range and habitat
The majority of the species is concentrated in the state of Bahia, with occasional records from the nearby state of Minas Gerais. It most likely once occurred in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, but has since been extirpated.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
It inhabits the canopy of the lowland Atlantic forest, and has a diet of seeds, berries, especially from Byrsonima sericea and ficuses, fruit, caterpillars, and other insects. It shares its habitat with other endemic birds, such as the saffron toucanet and pin-tailed manakin. The banded cotinga is not migratory and its nest is a simple cup.
Conservation
The greatest threat to the banded cotinga's survival is deforestation. Continued habitat fragmentation has also complicated matters, sending populations into a sharp decline. Some protected areas, such as the RPPN Estação Veracel and Reserva Serra Bonita, are now thought to serve as bastions for this species.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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