#cotinga

photograph by Alex MA

the white-cheeked cotinga is a passerine bird native to the andes mountains in west-central peru, thriving in high-altitude woodland habitat. they have an oddly specific diet almost entirely consisting of mistletoe berries. their decreasing population is threatened by habitat destruction in much of their natural range, and as such are considered vulnerable by some conservation groups.

The male's blue colour comes from air pockets in their feathers - these scatter light, kinda like how the sky appears blue! Go check out photos - I had to desaturate the colour because it was burning my eyes lol. Males also make a rattling sound with their wings during flight. In contrast, the females are brown with a laced pattern.

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drawn in procreate

Submitted for classification by @butchtheworld

Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) "The Long-wattled Umbrellabird inhabits lowland forests and humid foothills of rugged mountains like the ones of Calima El Darién. Surveys indicate that deforestation and hunting may be taking a toll, leaving the species vulnerable." ~ María Paula Rubiano A. Audubon Magazine.