cotinga (kotingga)

[NL., from S. Amer. native name.] 1. The native name of several Blue Cotinga ( Cotinga cærule a ). ting a ( a ) + -ida.] A family of South American pa erine birds, proposed by Bonaparte in 1849, of uncertain definition and position, containing the cotingas, manakins, cocks-of-the rock, bell-birds, fruit-crows, etc. The term is used in varying senses by different authors, and is inextricably confused with Pipride, Ampelida, Bombycillidæ, etc. By G. R. Gray (1869) it is made to cover 62 genera and 166 species, divided into 7 subfamilies: Tityrina, Co ting inæ (the cotingas proper), Lipauginæ, Gym no der inæ (the fruit-crows, as the averanos, arapungas, bell-birds, umbrella-birds, etc.), Piprinæ (the manakins proper), Rupicolina (cocks-of-the-rock), and Phytotomine. The group thus constituted is a highly diversified one, containing many beautiful and interesting forms, characteristic of the South American fauna. In a common usage, Cotingidæ are exclusive of the Pipride and Phytotomidæ as separate families.