Spangled cotinga

Spangled cotinga
Male at Cincinnati Zoo
Female at Cincinnati Zoo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cotingidae
Genus: Cotinga
Species: C. cayana
Binomial name
Cotinga cayana
(Linnaeus, 1766)

The spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana) is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae, the cotingas. It is found in the canopy of the Amazon Rainforest in South America.

Because of their bright, beautiful colours, cotingas have been hunted by native peoples for their feathers, as well as for food. The feathers of some species are used in making fishing flies and lures. The beauty of these birds draws birdwatchers from around the world and so may add to the local tourist economy.[2]

Description

The species is sexually dimorphic with the male being a bright turquoise-blue with a large deep wine-red throat and black to the wings, tail and back. The female is overall dull brownish-gray with darker wings and faint mottling below.

Biology

As other members of the genus Cotinga, this species is frugivorous, but it has also been recorded feeding on insects. They are found in the upper canopy of the rainforest. Males often perch in dead trees high above the forest floor. The spangled cotinga and other members of the genus Cotinga do not sing or vocalise although they have been heard making a “whistling” sound from the wings during flight.[3]

Distribution

The spangled cotinga is found throughout the Amazon Basin. It is not considered to be threatened because of its wide distribution.[4]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Cotinga cayana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Spangled Cotinga (Cotinga cayana)". Animal Life Resource. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Overview of Cotinga cayana". The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Neotropical Birds. 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  4. ↑ ">"Spangled Cotinga". BirdLife International (2014) Species factsheet: Cotinga cayana. Retrieved 3 February 2014. 2014.

External links

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