Bay-vented cotinga (Doliornis sclateri)

PN Yanachaga Chemillén, Pasco, Peru. Mar 13, 2020

comments (7)

Thibaud Aronson

Lion

This is a pretty rare cotinga, endemic to central Peru, found in elfin forest mostly above 3000 meters and known from only a few locations. As far as I know, this is the first record from this sector of the national park, so it was quite a lovely encounter! Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Thank you for posting this wonderful rarity, and congrats!
That rain must be so freezing, right? Posted 5 years ago
1. Thibaud Aronson
  
  Lion
  
  It was kinda variable, actually. The first time I was up there, absolutely. Every rain drop, and they were huge, felt like an icicle. Then of course it cleared up and I got a sunburn an hour later! But on that specific day, it wasn't too bad (I might just have been chewing more leaves on that day, I don't remember!) Posted 5 years ago, modified 2 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Hah, you chew coca? What is it like? Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
      
      Lion
      
      Well the taste isn't great: pretty bitter, kind of like chewing loose leaves of a strong green tea.
      But the effects are really remarkable. Without them, I start having trouble catching my breath around 2800 masl, and going uphill gets real tiring, real fast. But leaves allow me to hike quite well at 4000 meters, lasting all day long without feeling much of either hunger or exhaustion. Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        That's remarkable. We've only been above 3000m once. We got some pills beforehand and had no issues, not sure if we would have had issues without the pills. Our guide said getting mountain sickness has nothing to do with fitness or training, you just get it or you don't. Posted 5 years ago
      2. Thibaud Aronson
        
        Lion
        
        Lucky you! I never get particularly bad symptoms, but the shortness of breath does limit my ability to hike without the leaves (it was particularly noticeable in Bhutan). Fortunately since I'm usually birding, I don't move very quickly! Posted 5 years ago

The Bay-vented cotinga

The bay-vented cotinga is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is endemic to Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Info 2 0

Similar species: Perching Birds

Species identified by Thibaud Aronson

By Thibaud Aronson

Uploaded Apr 20, 2020. Captured Mar 13, 2020 11:09 in Oxapampa, Peru.

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Canon EOS 7D Mark II
f/8.0
1/1250s
ISO2000
560mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.