Snowy cotinga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Snowy cotinga |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Carpodectes
|
| Species: |
nitidus
|
 |
|
The snowy cotinga (Carpodectes nitidus) is a beautiful, medium-sized bird. It belongs to a bird family called Cotingidae. You can find these birds in Central America. They love living in warm, wet forests, especially in low-lying areas. Both male and female snowy cotingas are easy to spot because of their unique colors. The male is bright white, and the female is a soft pale grey.
Contents
What Does the Snowy Cotinga Look Like?
The adult snowy cotinga is about 20 centimeters (8 inches) long. It's a plump bird with a small head.
Male and Female Differences
The male snowy cotinga really stands out! It's almost completely white. You might see a tiny bit of bluish-grey on its head and back.
The female looks a bit different. Her upper body is a light brownish-grey. Her wings are a little darker, with white edges. She also has a white ring around her eye. Her belly and chest are greyish-white.
How to Tell Them Apart from Other Birds
Both male and female snowy cotingas have a bluish-grey beak. This special beak color helps you tell them apart from the yellow-billed cotinga. The yellow-billed cotinga looks similar but has a yellow beak.
Sometimes, the female snowy cotinga might be confused with other birds. These include the black-crowned tityra or the masked tityra. But those birds have more color on their heads, making them different from the snowy cotinga.
Where Do Snowy Cotingas Live?
The snowy cotinga lives in the warm, wet forests of Central America. You can find them in countries like Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Their Favorite Places to Be
They prefer coastal plains and low hills. You can usually spot them up to about 450 meters (1,476 feet) high. They like to hang out in the tops of trees (the canopy). You might also see them along the edges of forests or in open areas with a few big trees.
Is the Snowy Cotinga in Danger?
The snowy cotinga is not a very common bird. However, it lives across a wide area. Scientists believe its total population is only decreasing a little bit.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) checks on how many animals are left. They have decided the snowy cotinga is a "least concern" species. This means they are not currently worried about it becoming endangered.
