Cotinga amabilis
The Lovely Cotinga (Cotinga amabilis) is a breathtakingly beautiful neotropical passerine, a jewel of the rainforest canopy that captivates with its vibrant coloration. Adult males are renowned for their spectacular, iridescent purplish-blue plumage, contrasted sharply by dark wings and a vibrant magenta-red lower breast and belly. Measuring approximately 18-19 cm (7-7.5 inches) in length, their striking appearance makes them an unforgettable sight. Females, exhibiting extreme sexual dimorphi...
Found exclusively in humid, tropical lowland and foothill evergreen forests, typically at elevations from sea level up to around 1,000-1,200 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, feeding almost exclusively on ripe fruits, particularly those of mistletoe and various forest trees, often plucked while perched or in short, aerial sallies. Occasionally consumes small insects.
Lovely Cotingas are primarily diurnal, active during daylight hours and roosting quietly in dense canopy vegetation. Males engage in a polygynous lek breeding system, gathering at traditional display sites, typically high in emergent trees, to attract females. Their courtship involves elaborate p...
The Lovely Cotinga is a resident species, found across a relatively narrow but continuous band of humid, tropical evergreen forests spanning Central America. Its northern extent begins in southeastern Mexico, including the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco. From there, its range ex...
Least Concern
- The male Lovely Cotinga's iridescent plumage is not due to pigment but to the microscopic structure of its feathers, which scatters light to create a dazzling, ever-changing purplish-blue. - This species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism, with males being brilliantly colored and females crypti...