Holly D'Oench
Artist & Naturalist

Cotinga cayana

The spangled cotinga (Cotinga cayana) is a tropical bird that is common throughout the Amazon basin. This painting depicts the male spangled cotinga; the females are dull brown in color. Due to their bright plumage, they are a tourist attraction to birders. However, because they do not vocalize, they are a challenge to spot in the jungle!

This bird is a frugivore (fruit eater) and helps disseminate seeds therefore assisting forest regrowth. They spend most of their time perched high in the canopy with other members of the genus Cotinga.