Xipholena atropurpurea
The White-winged Cotinga (Xipholena atropurpurea) is an exceptionally striking neotropical passerine, a jewel of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Males are instantly recognizable by their glossy, iridescent black plumage contrasting sharply with large, brilliant white patches on the primary coverts and secondaries, creating a truly spectacular sight in flight or display. Females, in stark sexual dimorphism, are much duller, exhibiting a pale olive-green to greenish-grey coloration above and paler, o...
Resident in the humid canopy and subcanopy of mature and secondary lowland Atlantic Forest, typically found at elevations ranging from sea level up to around 900 meters (3,000 feet).
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of small to medium-sized fruits, especially berries from Melastomataceae and Loranthaceae families, supplemented occasionally by insects.
White-winged Cotingas are diurnal, generally observed foraging solitarily or in pairs, though small groups may gather at abundant fruit sources. Their foraging strategy primarily involves scanning for ripe fruits from a perch, then making short, sallies to pluck them directly from branches. Males...
The White-winged Cotinga is endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome of eastern Brazil, exhibiting a highly restricted and fragmented distribution. Its range extends discontinuously along the coastal lowlands and foothills from the state of Pernambuco south through Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Espírito S...
Vulnerable
- The male White-winged Cotinga's brilliant white wing patches are so striking they almost appear painted on, making it unmistakable among its forest peers. - This species is an obligate frugivore, relying heavily on fruit availability, which makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentat...