Spangled Cotinga Gallery

Cotinga cayana

The Birds of the World website offers this descriptive information about the Spangled Cotinga:  The brightly-plumaged Spangled Cotinga is a widespread Amazonian species, ranging from the base of the Andes east to the Guyanas. It is a member of the genus Cotinga that frequents the canopy of terra firme forest. Males are bright turquoise blue with extensive black “spangling” on the wings and back, and has a light purple throat. The similar Plum-throated Cotinga (Cotinga maynana) of western Amazonia differs by lacking the black “spangling,” has yellow eyes, and is found more frequently in the canopy of varzea forest. It can also be found along the edges of oxbow lakes. Seen most frequently from canopy towers or canopy walkways. It forages in fruiting trees, but is seen more often perched in dead branches emerging from the top of the tallest trees, which explains why they are difficult to spot from the ground. The Spangled Cotinga is similar to other members of the genus Cotinga in lacking any true vocalizations, and has been heard emitting a “whistling” sound from the wings in flight.

I saw and photographed my first Spangled Cotinga on August 17, 2023.  I was with a small group with Jeff Parker Tours and we were staked out on a Harpy Eagle nest when we spotted this colorful bird high in the canopy on a private ranch.  To see more details about the location where we watched this bird, see my blog post located here.  Here are a couple of the photos of the Spangled Cotinga that I took that day.