Chestnut-crested Cotinga

Overview

The chestnut-crested cotinga (Ampelion rufaxilla) is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, although its population is believed to be decreasing and it is considered rare and local in parts of its range.

Identification

• Length between 18.5 and 23 cm with a weight of 69 to 77 g, with the antioquiae subspecies being larger and darker than the nominate subspecies.
• Adults feature a black crown with a long chestnut crest, olive gray upperparts with dusky streaks, and chestnut face, nape, and throat.
• Wings and tail are mostly black or blackish brown with chestnut lesser and median wing coverts, while the lower breast and belly are yellow with black streaks.
• Possesses a bright red iris, a bill with a blue-gray base and black tip, and dark olive or olive-gray legs and feet.
• Song is described as a quiet, deep, nasal croak, often with a stuttered introduction like 't't'ti'kreeh' or a dry, raspy stuttered 'reh'.

Habitat

This species inhabits humid montane forest and woodlands at and near the tree line, ranging in elevation from 1,300 m to 3,000 m depending on the country. It has a disjunct distribution across the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, where it remains a year-round resident.

Diet

Although its diet has not been fully detailed, it appears to consist mostly of fruits and sometimes insects. The bird usually forages singly or in pairs within the forest canopy and takes insects in mid-air.

Did you know?

The species performs a distinctive flight display where it ascends in an arc from a treetop perch to land on a different one, producing audible wingbeats on the ascent and a 'braking' noise on the descent. Its nest is an open cup made from lichens on a base of twigs, and the only known clutch consisted of a single greenish egg with dark spots.