Cotingidae

views updated

Cotingidae (cotingas, cock-of-the-rock; class Aves, order Passeriformes) A family of small to large, brightly coloured birds, many of which have facial wattles, crests, and modified wing feathers. They are arboreal, feeding on fruit and insects, which are taken mainly in flight. They usually nest in trees and bushes, building an open cup (but Rupicola (cock-of-the-rock) builds a mud-and-vegetable nest on rock faces). There are 25 genera, with 65 species, found in Central and S. America.

More From encyclopedia.com