Lovely Cotinga (Cotinga amabilis); Cotinga linda; Azurcotinga; Cotinga céleste

Cotingas are primarily fruit-eaters and are found in Central and South America. In Costa Rica they are represented by 8 different species (see the standard Costa Rican field guide The Birds of Costa Rica by Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean) and are generally held to be threatened by habitat destruction. In the Turrialba area they are not at all common and the beautiful Snowy Cotinga (see my earlier post) is the only species that I myself have ever been able to find with any regularity – and then only at lowland sites such as Peralta and, a little further afield, Lagunas de Bonilla.

This situation has changed in recent years with repeated sightings of a single and now famous male Lovely Cotinga at the nearby Rancho Naturalista birding lodge. In addition, and thanks to the growth in the number of observers in the field, the same species is often reported at medium elevations in the highlands in the area of the Cabécar indigenous reserve near Grano de Oro. This requires a lengthier excursion either by car – 4-wheel drive is advised – or by bus, but a good look at the male Lovely Cotinga is well worth it:

Visitors to Costa Rica need to be aware of the presence in the Pacific lowlands, and up to around 1,800 m, of the similarly attired Turquoise Cotinga (Cotinga ridgwayi). Females of both species have grey, heavily spotted plumage and could easily be mistaken as being a completely different species. Unfortunately, I do not at present have access to photographs taken locally of any female Lovely Cotinga. I hope to be able to turn my full attention to this beautiful species.