Banded cotinga

The banded cotinga (Cotinga maculata) is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is endemic to south-east Brazil.

Banded cotinga
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cotingidae
Genus: Cotinga
Species:
C. maculata
Binomial name
Cotinga maculata
(Müller, 1776)

Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss as its population is estimated to number 250-999 mature individuals.[2]

Description

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.[2] The primaries are modified to produce a slight whir during display.[3]

Distribution

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 likely since been extirpated.

Ecology

It inhabits the canopy of the lowland Atlantic forest, and has a diet of seeds, berries - especially Byrsonima sericea and Ficuses,[2] fruit, caterpillars, and other insects. It shares its habitat with other endemic birds, such as saffron toucanet and pin-tailed manakin.[3] It's not migratory and its nest is a simple cup.[2]

Threats and conservation

The greatest threat for the cotinga 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.[2]


References
  1. BirdLife International (2019). "Cotinga maculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. "Banded Cotinga *Cotinga maculata*". Birdlife Datazone. Birdlife. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. "Banded Cotinga". ABCBirds. American Bird Conservancy. Retrieved 12 October 2020.


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