The bay-vented cotinga is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is endemic to Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in the central Peruvian Andes, primarily in humid montane cloud forest, elfin forest, and forest edges with abundant fruiting trees. It favors mature canopy and moss-laden dwarfed woodlands, sometimes visiting adjacent secondary growth and forest gaps. Polylepis patches and Chusquea bamboo edges may be used for foraging. The species is highly localized and patchy within its elevational band.
Altitude Range
2700–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A scarce Andean cotinga, the bay-vented cotinga is named for its rich bay-colored vent and undertail coverts. It keeps to the high canopy of humid montane forests and is easiest to find at fruiting trees. The species is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation within its narrow Peruvian range.
Temperament
shy and elusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, but may gather loosely at heavily fruiting trees. Nests are presumed to be placed high in trees with minimal external display; breeding biology remains poorly documented. Territoriality appears weak outside the immediate nesting area.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are quiet and infrequent, consisting of thin, high-pitched whistles and soft notes given from the canopy. Calls can be easily missed amid wind and insect noise, so the species is more often detected by movement at fruiting trees.
Plumage
Male is mostly slate-gray with a darker, nearly blackish head and a distinct bay-rufous vent and undertail coverts; wings and tail are dusky. Female is browner and duller with more diffuse mottling and the same bay-tinged vent area. Both sexes have a compact, cotinga-like silhouette with a broad-based bill.
Diet
Primarily consumes small to medium-sized fruits and berries, including those of mistletoes and montane shrubs. It swallows fruit whole and later regurgitates or passes seeds, aiding forest regeneration. Occasionally it may glean small arthropods while foraging among foliage.
Preferred Environment
Feeds high in the canopy of humid montane forest, especially at forest edges and in light gaps with fruiting trees. It also visits dwarfed elfin forest and patches of Polylepis or bamboo-lined edges when fruit is available.
