Carpodectes hopkei
The Black-tipped Cotinga (Carpodectes hopkei) is a striking passerine known for its exceptional sexual dimorphism and pristine white plumage in males. Adult males are almost entirely snow-white, with a brilliant, silky sheen, prominently featuring contrasting black tips on their primary wing feathers—a key field mark that lends the species its name. They measure approximately 19.5–22 cm (7.7–8.7 in) in length and weigh around 65-80 grams, with a robust black bill and black legs. Females, in s...
This species primarily inhabits the humid lowlands of wet tropical and subtropical rainforests, often found near rivers, forest edges, and clearings, typically below 800 meters elevation.
The diet of the Black-tipped Cotinga is almost exclusively frugivorous, consisting primarily of various small to medium-sized fruits, which they typically pluck from trees while perched or in short aerial sallies.
Black-tipped Cotingas are largely solitary or observed in very small, loose groups, often inconspicuous despite the male's bright plumage, usually perched quietly in the mid-canopy or subcanopy. They are diurnal, spending their days foraging for fruit. Their foraging strategy primarily involves p...
The Black-tipped Cotinga is a resident species, restricted to a relatively narrow strip of humid lowland rainforest along the Pacific slope of Central and South America. Its breeding and year-round range extends from extreme southeastern Panama, specifically the Darién Province, southward through...
Least Concern
- The male Black-tipped Cotinga is one of the few entirely white birds in the Neotropics, making it incredibly striking against the green rainforest. - Its scientific name, *Carpodectes hopkei*, honors German ornithologist Johann Paul Hopke. - Unlike many brightly colored cotingas, the Black-tipp...