FaunaHub

Cotinga (e.g. Cotinga cayana)

BirdNeotropicalRainforest

Male spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana), a brilliant turquoise Amazon bird with a purple throat.

Spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana), male, Brazil.

Image: Hector Bottai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Cotingas (family Cotingidae) are a varied family of perching birds found in the forests of Central and South America, celebrated for including some of the most spectacularly coloured and strangely ornamented birds in the world. The spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana), shown here, is a classic example: the male is a shimmering turquoise-blue with a deep wine-purple throat, glowing among the green of the Amazon canopy.

The family is wonderfully diverse, ranging from these jewel-like blue species to brilliant orange cocks-of-the-rock, snow-white bellbirds with bizarre wattles, and more — many of them with extraordinary courtship displays and sounds.

Note: “cotinga” covers a large, varied family; details here use the spangled cotinga as a reference and describe the group broadly. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Cotingas live in the forests of the Neotropics — from Mexico and Central America through the Amazon basin and into South America — mostly in tropical rainforest, where many species favour the canopy and forest edge. Some are lowland birds, others live in montane cloud forest, and the family as a whole is closely tied to intact tropical woodland.

Diet

Most cotingas are primarily frugivores, eating a great deal of fruit, and many also take insects, especially when feeding their young. By swallowing fruit and later dispersing the seeds, fruit-eating cotingas play an important role in regenerating tropical forests. Feeding habits vary across the family, but the strong link to fruit is a recurring theme.

Behavior

Cotingas are best known for the dramatic courtship of their males. In many species the brilliantly coloured or ornamented males display at communal sites called “leks,” competing through visual show and sometimes astonishing sounds — the screaming-piha's ringing call and the bellbirds' clanging, metallic notes are among the loudest in the bird world. Males of many cotingas are vividly coloured while females are duller and well camouflaged, reflecting the family's emphasis on male display. Outside the breeding season many cotingas are quiet, inconspicuous canopy birds.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Cotingas are prized by birdwatchers for their beauty and remarkable displays, and they contribute to forest health as seed-dispersers. Because so many depend on intact tropical forest, deforestation is the chief threat, and some species — particularly restricted-range or montane ones — are of conservation concern, while others remain widespread. Consult the IUCN Red List for species-specific status.

More photos of the cotinga

A spangled cotinga perched, showing its turquoise plumage.

Spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana).

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Cotinga

What is a cotinga?
A cotinga is a member of the Neotropical bird family Cotingidae — a diverse group of perching birds from the forests of Central and South America. The family is famous for containing some of the most spectacularly coloured and bizarrely ornamented birds anywhere, from jewel-like blue cotingas to flame-orange cocks-of-the-rock and strange-wattled bellbirds.
Why are male cotingas so colourful?
It's largely about courtship. In many cotingas the males display to females — often at communal 'lek' sites — and brilliant colours or elaborate ornaments help them stand out and compete for mates. Females, by contrast, are usually drab and well camouflaged for nesting. This strong difference between the sexes is a hallmark of the family.
What do cotingas eat?
Most cotingas are mainly fruit-eaters, consuming lots of fruit and often taking insects too, especially to feed their chicks. As they eat fruit and later drop or pass the seeds elsewhere, fruit-eating cotingas help disperse seeds and regenerate the tropical forests they live in.
Are cotingas loud?
Some are astonishingly loud. While many cotingas are quiet canopy birds, the family also includes record-breakers: bellbirds produce clanging, metallic calls and the screaming piha gives a ringing whistle — among the loudest sounds in the bird world, used by males to attract mates across the forest.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.