Xipholena punicea
The Pompadour Cotinga (Xipholena punicea) is an extraordinarily vibrant passerine bird, renowned for the male's dazzling plumage. Males are an arresting deep purplish-red over much of the body, starkly contrasted by pure white wing patches that become especially prominent in flight or display. Measuring approximately 20-22 cm (8-9 inches) in length and weighing around 55-65 grams, the male is an unmistakable spectacle of the Amazonian canopy. Females, by contrast, are far more subtly colored,...
This species primarily inhabits the canopy and sub-canopy of lowland humid tropical rainforests, particularly terra firme forests, typically at elevations below 500 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, their diet consists almost exclusively of fruits, especially figs (Ficus species), berries, and other small, soft fruits, which they consume by plucking directly from trees.
Pompadour Cotingas are predominantly diurnal, spending their days foraging high in the forest canopy. Males are polygynous and engage in solitary or dispersed lek-like displays, often perching conspicuously on exposed branches of fruiting trees to attract females with their brilliant plumage, tho...
The Pompadour Cotinga is a resident species distributed across northern South America, primarily within the Amazon Basin and the Guiana Shield. Its breeding range encompasses eastern Colombia, southern and eastern Venezuela, the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), and extensive parts of no...
Least Concern
- The male Pompadour Cotinga's incredibly vibrant purplish-red plumage is so intense it almost appears iridescent in certain lights. - Despite their dazzling appearance, males are often remarkably silent, making their presence known more by sight than by sound. - The species exhibits extreme sexu...