Purple cochoa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Purple cochoa
Male from West Sikkim
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Turdidae
Genus:	Cochoa
Species:	C. purpurea
Binomial name
Cochoa purpurea Hodgson, 1836
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The purple cochoa (Cochoa purpurea) is a beautiful, brightly colored bird. You can find it living in the cool, green temperate forests of Asia. This bird is usually quiet and hard to spot. Scientists think it might be related to birds like thrushes or Old World flycatchers. Purple cochoas like to stay hidden in dark parts of the forest. They often sit very still high up in the treetops.

What Does the Purple Cochoa Look Like?

This bird looks dark when it's in the shade of the forest. Its bright colors only show up when sunlight hits it. The top of its head, called the crown, is a shiny silvery blue. It has a black mask that goes over its eyes.

Male vs. Female Birds

The male purple cochoa has dull purplish-grey feathers on its wings and body. The female looks a bit different. Instead of purple, her feathers have a reddish-brown color. Both have a silvery-blue tail with a black band at the end.

An artist's illustration of both male and female purple cochoas.

The name "Cochoa" comes from a Nepali word for this bird. It was first used by a scientist named Brian Houghton Hodgson. For a long time, scientists weren't sure which bird family cochoas belonged to. Recent studies suggest they are related to thrushes.

Where Do Purple Cochoas Live?

You can find the purple cochoa in many Asian countries. These include Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. In India, they live along the Himalayan mountains.

Their Natural Home

Purple cochoas prefer to live in certain types of forests. They like warm, wet lowland forests. They also live in moist mountain forests. These places provide the perfect environment for them.

Purple Cochoa Behavior and Life Cycle

This bird is not very active. It mostly stays high up in the forest canopy. The breeding season for purple cochoas is from May to July. During this time, they build a special nest.

Nesting and Eggs

The nest is shaped like a cup. They build it in the fork of a tree branch. The nest is covered with moss, lichens, and a unique white thread-like fungus. The female lays three pale, sea-green eggs. These eggs have some blotchy marks on them. Both the male and female birds take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm. They are very shy when nesting. They will quietly slip away if they sense any danger nearby.

What They Eat and Their Calls

Purple cochoas eat different things. They enjoy berries, insects, and snails. Sometimes, they act like flycatchers. They will make short flights to catch fruit from trees. Their song is a soft whistle. They also make other sounds, like a "sit" and soft "trrr" noises.