Black-faced Cotinga

About the Black-faced Cotinga

The black-faced cotinga (Conioptilon mcilhennyi) is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru. The black-faced cotinga was first described by George Lowery and John O'Neill in 1966 and placed in a new genus. They assigned the specific epithet mcilhennyi to recognize John. S. McIlhenny, "who sponsored the Louisiana State University 1964-65 Peruvian Expedition" during which the first specimens were obtained. A large molecular phylogenetic study of the suboscines published in 2020 found that the black-faced cotinga was sister to the bare-necked fruitcrow (Gymnoderus foetidusi).

The black-faced cotinga remains the only member of genus Conioptilon and has no subspecies. The black-faced cotinga is 23 to 25 cm (9.1 to 9.8 in) long; three individuals weighed 81 to 89 g (2.9 to 3.1 oz). Adult males have a mostly black head and throat with a white crescent behind the ear coverts. Their upperparts are dark gray and their wings and tail an even darker gray. Their breast is a lighter gray that becomes white on the lower belly and undertail coverts. Almost unique among passerine birds, their unfeathered parts... Wikipedia →