Bay-vented Cotinga (Doliornis sclateri)

Identification & Behavior: ~22 cm (8.6 in). The male Bay-vented Cotinga has gray upperparts, throat, neck, breast, and a black cap. The rest of the underparts are brown with chestnut vent and undertail coverts. The female is similar but has a gray cap. Both sexes have a semi-concealed rufous nape. It forages in humid elfin forests and humid scrub. It is similar to the Red-crested Cotinga but is distinguished by having a brown belly, a black cap (male) and chestnut vent and undertail feathers. Its range does not overlap with the closely related Chestnut-bellied Cotinga.

Status: Endemic. The Bay-vented Cotinga is generally rare and local in montane elfin forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2600-2800 m.

Name in Spanish: Cotinga de Subcaudales Bayas.

Sub-species: Bay-vented Cotinga (Doliornis sclateri), Taczanowski, 1874.

Meaning of Name: Doliornis: Gr. dolios, dolos= cunning, crafty, wily and ornis, ornithos= bird.
sclateri: In honor of Dr. Philip Lutley Sclater (1829-1913) English ornithologist, collector.

See more of the Family Cotingidae