Spangled Cotinga (Cotinga cayana)

Identification & Behavior: ~20 cm (7.8 in). The male Spangled Cotinga is light turquoise blue with blackish wings. It has faint mottling on the upperparts, head, and underparts. It has a purple-colored throat and dark iris. The female is mostly brown darker on the upperparts and mottled with dusky on the underparts. It forages in the canopy of floodplain and Terra Firme forest. It is similar to the Plum-throated Cotinga but the male is distinguished by blackish wings and dusky mottling on the mantle, head, underparts, and by having a dark iris. The female has dark iris and dusky mottling on the underparts.

Status: The Spangled Cotinga is uncommon and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1350 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Cotinga Lentejuelada.

Sub-species: Spangled Cotinga (Cotinga cayana), (Linnaeus), 1766.

Meaning of Name: Cotinga: Tupí name Catingá= bright forest (bird), for the colourful cotingas.
cayana: In reference to Cayenne or French Guiana. In early ornithology “Cayenne” was often used of species of uncertain provenance presumed to be from Amazonia.

See more of the Family Cotingidae