Black-necked Red Cotinga

Overview

The black-necked red cotinga (Phoenicircus nigricollis) is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae found in South America. It is assessed as being of Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Males feature a glossy blackish head, neck, back, and wings, contrasted with a red to rosy red crown, rump, tail, and underparts.
• Females are larger with an olive face, upperparts, and wings, a dull reddish crown and ear coverts, and red underparts.
• Both sexes possess distinctive forehead feathers projecting forward over the nostrils, prominent bristles at the base of the bill, a yellow-ochre bill, dark brown irises, and pinkish red legs.
• The call is described as a loud 'whea', often preceded by a soft 'wur' or an explosive 'skeéyh!', accompanied by whistling wing noise during display flights.

Habitat

This species inhabits humid terra firme forest within the western and central Amazon Basin, ranging from southeastern Colombia through eastern Ecuador and northeastern Peru into extreme southern Venezuela and western and central Brazil. It occurs at elevations up to 600 m in Brazil and is considered uncommon to rare across its range.

Diet

The black-necked red cotinga feeds almost entirely on fruit, though specific foraging details are lacking. Both sexes vocalise while foraging.

Did you know?

Males perform 'twisting display flights' at leks situated 6 to 10 m above the ground, bobbing their heads and fluffing their rump feathers to attract females.