Snowy Cotinga
Carpodectes nitidus
Male is entirely snowy white with stout dark bill. Female also has stout gray bill, but body entirely pale gray with obvious white edges on wing feathers. Rather chunky body with short tail and smoothly rounded head, large black eye. Distinctive in limited range. Found in forest canopy, often seen around fruiting trees. Frequently perches conspicuously, but can descend into foliage when feeding. Quiet.
Identification
The adult snowy cotinga is about 8 inches (20 cm) long and is a plump bird with a smallish head. The male is very conspicuous and is entirely white, apart from a slight bluish-grey tinge on head and back. The upper parts of the female are pale brownish-grey with slightly darker wings bordered with white. There is a white ring round the eye and the underparts are greyish-white. In both sexes the beak is bluish-grey, and this distinguishes the birds from the otherwise similar yellow-billed cotinga (Carpodectes antoniae). The female might also be confused with the black-crowned tityra (Tityra inquisitor) or the masked tityra (Tityra semifasciata) but those species both have more colour on the head.
Taxonomy
Genus: Carpodectes; Family: Cotingidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Carpodectes nitidus
- Authority
- Salvin, 1865
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Carpodectes
Range and habitat
The snowy cotinga is native to lowland humid forests of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. It is present on the coastal plains and in low hills to an altitude of about 450 metres (1,476 ft), being found in the canopy, along the edges of woodland, and in nearby areas with isolated large trees.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Chucao Tapaculo
Scelorchilus rubecula
Fairly common to common in native temperate forest, adjacent shrubbery, wooded patches, and thickets along rivers and streams, especially with bamboo. Loud ringing song is commonly heard, but calling birds can be elusive. At other times can be confiding, walking out at close range as if curious, usually with tail cocked. Plumage distinctive, with bright rusty eyebrow, throat, and breast. Compare with the larger and fatter Chestnut-throated Huet-huet.
Northern Grosbeak-Canary
Crithagra donaldsoni
A large seedeater with a very large pinkish bill. Males are brownish-olive above and yellow below with a diffuse but noticeable head pattern; females are brown above and white below with heavy streaking all over the body. Both sexes have a yellow rump that is conspicuous in flight. Found in dry thorn savanna, thorn scrub, and semi-desert, usually in pairs or small groups. The distinctive song consists of series of sliding whistles: several on a higher pitch, then several on a lower pitch, several on the higher pitch, and so on. Separated from all other seedeaters in its range by its larger size and heavier pale bill.
Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna grisea
Medium-sized, dark brown shearwater with silvery flashes on underwings. Narrow wings with quick, deep wingbeats. Widespread and common, especially in the Pacific; can sometimes be seen close to shore. Can be in massive flocks. Extremely similar to Short-tailed Shearwater, but Sooty is heavier and has straighter wings; also look for slightly longer bill and less rounded head. Brown plumage is reminiscent of Flesh-footed Shearwater, but Sooty is narrower-winged and has a smaller, all-dark bill.
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