Banded Cotinga

The Banded Cotinga (Cotinga maculata) is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is endemic to southeastern Brazil. Male birds are a vivid blue color with black spots on their backs and are around 20 cm long. With a blue stripe across the chest, the throat and belly are a vivid purple color. Females have some white mottling and are a dull brown color. The primaries are modified to produce a slight whir during display.

The life histories of the seven species of birds that make up the genus Cotinga, which also includes the Lovely and Spangled Cotingas, are sadly poorly understood. They are modest, unassuming birds that live in the upper reaches of the forest canopy, despite the fact that many of them have spectacular colors. In addition to perhaps eating seeds and insects, they may also eat the fruit there. Similar to other colorful birds, Banded Cotingas are frequently captured for the cage bird trade, which, along with deforestation, is one of the main factors contributing to their sharp decrease. According to the IUCN, it is considered endangered.