cotinga

[ koh-ting-guh, kuh- ]

noun

1. any of several songbirds constituting the family Cotingidae of chiefly tropical New World regions.

cotinga

/ kəˈtɪŋɡə /

noun

1. any tropical American passerine bird of the family Cotingidae, such as the umbrella bird and the cock-of-the-rock, having a broad slightly hooked bill Also calledchatterer

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotinga¹

1775–85; < New Latin < French < Tupi

Example Sentences

The small cotinga’s turquoise body practically glowed in his hands.

From National Geographic

One is a small picture, which — remarkably — uses colored hummingbird, quetzal, cotinga and macaw feathers instead of paint.

From Washington Post

Its nest, its pallet, was of every kind of precious feather— Of lovely cotinga feathers, roseate spoonbill feathers, quetzal feathers.

From Literature

For example, the grey-winged cotinga is currently listed as “vulnerable” with a habitable range of some 3300 square kilometers in the forested mountains northeast of Rio de Janeiro.

From Science Magazine

Usually, species such as the toucan and cotinga use their large beaks to eat the fruit, eventually spreading the seeds throughout the forest.

From BBC