Zaratornis stresemanni
The White-cheeked Cotinga, *Zaratornis stresemanni*, is a strikingly distinctive member of the Cotingidae family, an assemblage renowned for its unique plumages and behaviors. Measuring approximately 19-20 cm (7.5-8 inches) in length and weighing around 45-55 grams, this medium-sized passerine is characterized by its dull olive-green upperparts, yellow-olive underparts, and, most notably, a dark greyish head starkly contrasted by prominent white cheek patches that serve as its primary field m...
Found exclusively in high-altitude Andean cloud forests, humid montane scrub, and stunted *Polylepis* woodlands, typically between 2,800 and 4,000 meters (9,200-13,100 feet) elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming small fruits, especially mistletoe berries (*Tristerix*, *Gaiadendron*), supplemented by insects gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
The White-cheeked Cotinga is generally a quiet and inconspicuous bird, often observed singly or in pairs, though it frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks outside the breeding season, especially alongside species like tanagers and flycatchers. Its foraging strategy is primarily frugivorou...
The White-cheeked Cotinga is an endemic resident of the Andes in central and southern Peru. Its distribution spans several departments including Lima, Junín, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cusco, and Puno. It is strictly altitudinal, found within a narrow band of humid montane scrub and stunte...
Near Threatened
- The White-cheeked Cotinga is the sole member of its genus, *Zaratornis*, making it a monotypic and unique lineage within the Cotingidae family. - It was named in honor of Erwin Stresemann, a prominent German ornithologist. - This species is an expert at finding and consuming mistletoe berries, ...