Cotinga

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Cotingas
Cotinga cayana-20090124.jpg
Spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Parvorder: Tyrannida
Family: Cotingidae
Bonaparte, 1849
Genera

Many, see text

Cotingas (Cotingidae) area.svg
Geographical range of the cotingas.

The cotingas are a large family, Cotingidae, of suboscine passerine birds found in Central America and tropical South America. Cotingas are birds of forests or forest edges, that are primary frugivorous. They all have broad bills with hooked tips, rounded wings, and strong legs. They range in size from 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in) of the fiery-throated fruiteater (Pipreola chlorolepidota) up to 48–51 cm (19–20 in) of the Amazonian umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus). [1] [2]

Contents

Description

Cotingas vary widely in social structure. There is a roughly 50/50 divide in the family between species with biparental care, and those in which the males play no part in raising the young. [3] The purple-throated fruitcrow lives in mixed-sex groups in which one female lays an egg and the others help provide insects to the chick. [4]

In cotinga species where only the females care for the eggs and young, the males have striking courtship displays, often grouped together in leks. Such sexual selection results in the males of these species, including the Guianan cock-of-the-rock, being brightly coloured, or decorated with plumes or wattles, like the umbrellabirds, with their umbrella-like crest and long throat wattles. Other lekking cotingids like the bellbirds and screaming piha, have distinctive and far-carrying calls. In such canopy-dwelling genera as Carpodectes , Cotinga , and Xipholena , males gather high in a single tree or in adjacent trees, but male cocks-of-the-rock, as befits their more terrestrial lives, give their elaborate displays in leks on the ground. [4]

The females of both lekking and biparental species are duller than the males.

Breeding

Nests range from tiny to very large. Many species lay a single egg in a nest so flimsy that the egg can be seen from underneath. This may make the nests hard for predators to find. Fruiteaters build more solid cup nests, and the cocks-of-the-rock attach their mud nests to cliffs. [4] The nests may be open cups or little platforms with loosely woven plant material, usually placed in a tree. The clutches comprise one to four eggs. Incubation typically takes 15–28 days. Fledging usually occurs at 28–33 days.

Habitat

Deserts, open woodlands, coastal mangroves, and humid tropical forests comprise their habitats. Cotingas face very serious threats from the loss of their habitats. [5]

Taxonomy and systematics

The family Cotingidae was introduced by French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1849. [6] According to the International Ornithological Committee, as of July 2021, the family contains 66 species divided into 24 genera. [7]

A 2014 molecular phylogenetic study of the cotingas by Jacob Berv and Richard Prum found that the genera formed five monophyletic clades and they proposed that the family could be divided into five subfamilies. [8] The following cladogram is based on a molecular phylogenetic study of the suboscines by Michael Harvey and collaborators published in 2020. [9]

Cotingidae
Pipreolinae

Ampelioides – scaled fruiteater

Pipreola – fruiteaters (11 species)

Rupicolinae

Snowornis – pihas (2 species)

Carpornis – berryeaters (2 species)

Phoenicircus – cotingas (2 species)

Rupicola – cock-of-the-rocks (2 species)

Phytotominae

Zaratornis – white-cheeked cotinga

Phytotoma – plantcutters (3 species)

Phibalura – cotingas (1 species)

Doliornis – cotingas (2 species)

Ampelion – cotingas (2 species)

Cephalopterinae

Haematoderus – crimson fruitcrow

Querula – purple-throated fruitcrow

Pyroderus – red-ruffed fruitcrow

Perissocephalus – capuchinbird

Cephalopterus – umbrellabirds (3 species)

Cotinginae

Lipaugus – pihas and cotingas (9 species)

Procnias – bellbirds (4 species)

Cotinga – cotingas (7 species)

Porphyrolaema – purple-throated cotinga

Conioptilon – black-faced cotinga

Gymnoderus – bare-necked fruitcrow

Xipholena – cotingas (3 species)

Carpodectes – cotingas (3 species)

The genus Tijuca was found to be embedded in Lipaugus, a position that was confirmed by a more detailed 2020 study. [10]

ImageGenusLiving species
Ampelioides tschudii (Frutero escamado) (24) (14148007464).jpg Ampelioides Verreaux, 1867
Pipreola frontalis squamipectus.jpg Pipreola Swainson, 1838
Olivaceous Piha - Colombia S4E3368 (16835513815).jpg Snowornis Prum, 2001
Hooded berryeater (Carpornis cucullata).jpg Carpornis G.R. Gray, 1846
Rupicola peruviana (male) -San Diego Zoo-8a.jpg Rupicola Brisson, 1760
Phoenicircus carnifex - Guianan red cotinga (male) 01.JPG Phoenicircus Swainson, 1832
Zaratornis stresemanni - White-cheeked Cotinga.jpg Zaratornis Koepcke, 1954
White-tipped Plantcutter (Phytotoma rutila).jpg Phytotoma Molina, 1782
Swallow-tailed Cotinga (Phibalura flavirostris).jpeg Phibalura Vieillot, 1816
Doliornis remseni 262570674.jpg Doliornis Taczanowski, 1874
Red-crested Cotinga - EcuadorDSCN2925.jpg Ampelion Tschudi, 1845
Haematoderus Bonaparte, 1854
Purple-throated Fruitcrow RWD.jpg Querula Vieillot, 1816
Pavo no Parque Estaudal Intervales.jpg Pyroderus G.R. Gray, 1840
Cephalopterus glabricollis.jpg Cephalopterus E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809
Capuchinbird - Perissocephalus tricolor.jpg Perissocephalus Oberholser, 1899
TROPEIRO-DA-SERRA (Lipaugus lanioides) (13868684655).jpg Lipaugus F. Boie, 1828
Procnias averano.jpg Procnias Illiger, 1811
SpangledCotinga.jpg Cotinga Brisson, 1760
Porphyrolaema porphyrolaema - Purple-throated cotinga (female).JPG Porphyrolaema Bonaparte, 1854
Conioptilon mcilhennyi - Black-faced cotinga.jpg Conioptilon Lowery & O'Neill, 1966
Gymnoderus foetidus - Bare-necked Fruitcrow.JPG Gymnoderus E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809
Xipholena punicea -Miami Metrozoo -male-8a.jpg Xipholena Gloger, 1841
Snowy Cotinga - Sarapiqui - Costa Rica S4E1046 (26584977742).jpg Carpodectes Salvin, 1865

A number of species previously placed in this family are now placed in the family Tityridae (genera Laniisoma , Laniocera and Iodopleura ) [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manakin</span> Family of South American birds

The manakins are a family, Pipridae, of small suboscine passerine birds. The group contains 55 species distributed through the American tropics. The name is from Middle Dutch mannekijn "little man".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umbrellabird</span> Genus of birds

Umbrellabird is the common name referring to three species of birds in the genus Cephalopterus. They are named for their distinct umbrella-like hoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-wattled umbrellabird</span> Bird of western Colombia and Ecuador

The long-wattled umbrellabird is an umbrellabird in the Cotingidae family. Its Spanish names include pájaro bolsón, pájaro toro, dungali, and vaca del monte. The long-wattled umbrellabird is considered rare and it resides in humid to wet premontane and cloud forest. They are often found on the Pacific slopes of southwest Colombia and western Ecuador, but occasionally are found at lower altitudes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berryeater</span> Genus of birds

Carpornis, the berryeaters, is a genus of birds in the family Cotingidae. These primarily frugivorous birds are endemic to the southern half of the Atlantic forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bare-necked umbrellabird</span> Species of bird

The bare-necked umbrellabird is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in the Talamancan montane forests of Costa Rica and Panama. Bare-necked umbrellabirds live only in forests and their diet consists mainly of fruits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amazonian umbrellabird</span> Species of bird

The Amazonian umbrellabird is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae native to the Amazon basin with a separate population on the eastern slopes of the Andes. The male bird is entirely black, with a black crest and inflatable wattle on the throat, and at 48 to 55 cm, may be the largest passerine bird in South America. The female is slightly smaller. Both have an undulating flight, described as woodpecker-like, and the male has a loud, booming call.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swallow-tailed cotinga</span> Species of bird

The swallow-tailed cotinga is a species of passerine bird in the family Cotingidae. It is the only member of the genus Phibalura.

<i>Pipreola</i> Genus of birds

Pipreola is a genus of bird in the family Cotingidae. Together with Ampelioides tschudii, they are collectively known as fruiteaters. All are restricted to humid montane or foothill forest in western or northern South America. They are thickset birds with predominantly greenish upperparts. Males of most species have black heads and/or reddish, orange or yellow to the throat, chest or belly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiery-throated fruiteater</span> Species of bird

The fiery-throated fruiteater is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat destruction of its rainforest habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handsome fruiteater</span> Species of bird

The handsome fruiteater is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is endemic to coastal mountains of northern Venezuela. Two populations of the species live in the northern mountainous regions, separated by 400 km (250 mi). Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlet-breasted fruiteater</span> Species of bird

The scarlet-breasted fruiteater is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru where its natural habitat is subtropical and tropical moist montane forests. Two subspecies are recognised though some researchers consider these should be regarded as distinct species. It is a plump green bird with a black head, the males having red throats and the females yellow. It is a relatively common species with a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-breasted fruiteater</span> Species of bird

The orange-breasted fruiteater is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae native to Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is a plump green bird about 18 centimetres (7 in) long. Males have a glossy black head and bib, an orange throat and yellow belly. Females lack the dark head and have green upper parts and green and yellow streaked underparts. Both sexes have orange beaks and greyish-green legs. This is a relatively common species with a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-throated cotinga</span> Species of bird

The purple-throated cotinga is a species of bird in the cotinga family, Cotingidae. It is found in the western Amazon rainforest of South America; its range extends from southern Colombia south through eastern Ecuador and Peru and east through extreme northwestern Bolivia and into western Amazonian Brazil. It lives in the canopy or along the borders of humid forest throughout its range. The purple-throated cotinga is monotypic within the genus Porphyrolaema and has no known subspecies. It is one of the smaller cotinga species and expresses strong sexual dimorphism. Males have black upperparts with a bold white wingstripe and white edges to the tertial feathers and a white belly with some black barring on the rear flanks. The throat is a deep purple, giving the bird both its common and scientific names. Females are dark brown with pale buffy margins on the upperparts, buffy cinnamon with black barring on the underparts, and rufous on the throat. The male has a powerful voice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bare-throated bellbird</span> Species of bird

The bare-throated bellbird is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in moist subtropical and tropical forests in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The male has white plumage and bristly bluish-black bare skin around its eye, beak and throat. The female is more drab, being olive-brown above with streaked yellow underparts. The male has one of the loudest known bird calls, producing a metallic sound similar to a hammer striking an anvil. This bird feeds strictly on fruit and plays a part in dispersing the seeds of forest trees. It is considered Near Threatened because of loss of its forest habitat and collection for the pet bird trade

<i>Snowornis</i> Genus of birds

Snowornis is a genus of birds in the family Cotingidae. The species were formerly included in the genus Lipaugus,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-and-gold cotinga</span> Species of bird

The black-and-gold cotinga is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is endemic to humid Atlantic Forest in the highlands of the Serra do Mar in south-eastern Brazil. It is threatened by habitat loss, but remains common within several national parks, e.g. Serra dos Órgãos and Itatiaia. Males are highly vocal, and their loud, piercing whistle is frequently heard. It is strongly sexually dimorphic. Except for a bright yellow wing-speculum, males are superficially similar to the male common blackbird, while the far less conspicuous females are overall olive. The female resemble both sexes of the only other member of the genus, the grey-winged cotinga, but is larger, has a thicker bill, and yellowish-olive remiges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-winged cotinga</span> Species of bird

The grey-winged cotinga is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is endemic to Brazil where it is restricted to the Serra dos Órgãos and Serra do Tinguá in Rio de Janeiro State. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pompadour cotinga</span> Species of bird

The pompadour cotinga is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. This species lives in the Amazonian rainforest and has a range that extends across the Amazon Basin and includes Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas. The pompadour cotinga is primarily a frugivore but has been known to consume insects on occasion. This species of cotinga is distinct in that the males have a burgundy head and body, bright white wings, and yellow eyes. Like other members of the Cotingidae, this species is sexually dimorphic and the females have a pale grey head and body. Although there are not many documented observations of the nesting behavior of these birds, the males are known to perform elaborate mating displays for the females who then raise the young alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tityridae</span> Family of birds

Tityridae is family of suboscine passerine birds found in forest and woodland in the Neotropics. The 45 species in this family were formerly spread over the families Tyrannidae, Pipridae and Cotingidae. As yet, no widely accepted common name exists for the family, although tityras and allies and tityras, mourners and allies have been used. They are small to medium-sized birds. Under current classification, the family ranges in size from the buff-throated purpletuft, at 9.5 cm (3.7 in) and 10 grams, to the masked tityra, at up to 24 cm (9.5 in) and 88 grams. Most have relatively short tails and large heads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apolo cotinga</span> Species of bird from South America

The Apolo cotinga or palkachupa cotinga is a species of passerine bird in the family Cotingidae. It is a member of the genus Phibalura.

References

  1. Snow, D.; Sharpe, C.J. (2018). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Fiery-throated Fruiteater (Pipreola chlorolepidota)" . Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. doi:10.2173/bow.fitfru1.01. S2CID   243289215 . Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  2. Snow, D. (2018). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Amazonian Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus)" . Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. doi:10.2173/bow.amaumb1.01. S2CID   216264434 . Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. Cockburn, Andrew (2006). "Prevalence of different modes of parental care in birds". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 273 (1592): 1375–1383. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3458. PMC   1560291 . PMID   16777726. Supplementary Material.
  4. 1 2 3 Prum, Richard O.; Snow, David W. (2003). "Cotingas" . In Christopher Perrins (ed.). Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books. pp.  432–433. ISBN   1-55297-777-3.
  5. Complete Birds of the World. National Geographic. p. 200.
  6. Bock, Walter J. (1994). History and Nomenclature of Avian Family-Group Names. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Vol. 222. New York: American Museum of Natural History. p. 149. hdl:2246/830.
  7. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Cotingas, manakins, tityras, becards". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  8. Berv, J.S.; Prum, R.O. (2014). "A comprehensive multilocus phylogeny of the Neotropical cotingas (Cotingidae, Aves) with a comparative evolutionary analysis of breeding system and plumage dimorphism and a revised phylogenetic classification". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 81: 120–136. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.09.001. PMID   25234241.
  9. Harvey, M.G.; Bravo, G.A.; Claramunt, S.; Cuervo, A.M.; Derryberry, G.E.; Battilana, J.; Seeholzer, G.F.; McKay, J.S.; O’Meara, B.C.; Faircloth, B.C.; Edwards, S.V.; Pérez-Emán, J.; Moyle, R.G.; Sheldon, F.H.; Aleixo, A.; Smith, B.T.; Chesser, R.T.; Silveira, L.F.; Cracraft, J.; Brumfield, R.T.; Derryberry, E.P. (2020). "The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot". Science. 370 (6522): 1343–1348. Bibcode:2020Sci...370.1343H. doi:10.1126/science.aaz6970. hdl: 10138/329703 . PMID   33303617. S2CID   228084618. A high resolution version of the phylogenetic tree in Figure 1 is available from the first author's website here.
  10. Settlecowski, A.E.; Cuervo, A.M.; Tello, J.G.; Harvey, M.G.; Brumfield, R.T.; Derryberry, E.P. (2020). "Investigating the utility of traditional and genomic multilocus datasets to resolve relationships in Lipaugus and Tijuca (Cotingidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 147: 106779. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106779. PMID   32135309. S2CID   212568712.
  11. Remsen, J. V. Jr., C. D. Cadena, A. Jaramillo, M. Nores, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, T. S. Schulenberg, F. G. Stiles, D. F. Stotz, & K. J. Zimmer. 2007. A classification of the bird species of South America. Archived March 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine American Ornithologists' Union. Accessed 12 December 2007.

Further reading