The yellow-billed cotinga is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in the Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica and Panama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. It is threatened by habitat destruction.
Region
Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica and western Panama (Central America)
Typical Environment
Most frequently found along the Pacific slope in southern Costa Rica, especially around the Térraba–Sierpe mangroves, Golfo Dulce, and the Osa Peninsula, extending into adjacent western Panama. It favors mosaics of mangrove forest and nearby lowland moist forest, often using forest edges and river corridors. Birds commute between mangroves used for nesting and adjacent rainforest for feeding. It perches high in the canopy and is most often detected near fruiting trees. Occurrence is patchy and closely linked to intact coastal forest systems.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The yellow-billed cotinga is a striking Central American cotinga, with males gleaming white and a distinctive yellow bill. It is tightly tied to mangrove–rainforest mosaics on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and western Panama and is highly sensitive to habitat loss. As a fruit specialist, it helps disperse seeds of canopy trees. Its small, fragmented range and reliance on intact mangroves make it one of the most threatened cotingas.
Temperament
solitary and quiet
Flight Pattern
short, direct flights with rapid wingbeats between high canopy perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, perching conspicuously atop canopy snags near mangroves. Courtship includes display flights and prominent perching by males. Nests are placed high in trees near mangrove edges or adjacent lowland forest, typically as a small, exposed cup. Clutches are small, and breeding is closely tied to local fruit availability.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft and infrequent, consisting of thin, high-pitched whistles and squeaky notes. Calls carry poorly and are often overlooked amid insect noise. Males may give slightly more frequent notes during display periods.
