Amazonian Umbrellabird
Encyclopedia
The Amazonian Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus) is a species of bird
in the Cotingidae family. Much larger than the female, the male Amazonian Umbrellabird is likely the largest passerine
in South America
as well as the largest suboscine passerine in the world. The male Amazonian Umbrellabird grows to a weight of 480-571 grams (1-1.25 lbs) and a length of 48-55 cm (19-22 in). The female averages 41-44 cm (16-17 in) and weighs up to 380 grams (13.5 oz).
As in the other umbrellabird
s, the Amazonian Umbrellabird is almost entirely black, has a conspicuous crest on the top of their head, and an inflatable wattle on the neck, which serves to amplify their loud, booming calls. This birds has pale eyes, whereas in most umbrellabirds the eye is black. The undulating flying method of this species is considered quite woodpecker
-like, with the lack of white on the umbrellabird's plumage distinguishing it from large woodpeckers it co-exists with. The Amazonian Umbrellabird is seen flying usually flying only across openings like over rivers and usually boldly hops branch to branch while in trees.
This species occurs in two main populations: One found in woodland and forest, mainly near rivers, in the Amazon Basin
, and a second found in forested foothills of the eastern Andes
. The Amazonian Umbrellabird is found variously in small groups, pairs or individually. They are usually seen in or near the canopy but due to their wary behavior and scarcity at open spots they are easily missed for a bird of this size. They are heard in the field more often than they are seen. Fruit
and berries are usually preferred but insect
s, spider
s and insect larvae are eaten opportunistically.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Cotingidae family. Much larger than the female, the male Amazonian Umbrellabird is likely the largest passerine
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
as well as the largest suboscine passerine in the world. The male Amazonian Umbrellabird grows to a weight of 480-571 grams (1-1.25 lbs) and a length of 48-55 cm (19-22 in). The female averages 41-44 cm (16-17 in) and weighs up to 380 grams (13.5 oz).
As in the other umbrellabird
Umbrellabird
The Umbrellabirds are birds in the genus Cephalopterus found in rainforests of Central and South America. With a total length of 35–50 cm , they are among the largest members of the cotinga family, and the male Amazonian Umbrellabird is the largest passerine in South America.They are almost...
s, the Amazonian Umbrellabird is almost entirely black, has a conspicuous crest on the top of their head, and an inflatable wattle on the neck, which serves to amplify their loud, booming calls. This birds has pale eyes, whereas in most umbrellabirds the eye is black. The undulating flying method of this species is considered quite woodpecker
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
-like, with the lack of white on the umbrellabird's plumage distinguishing it from large woodpeckers it co-exists with. The Amazonian Umbrellabird is seen flying usually flying only across openings like over rivers and usually boldly hops branch to branch while in trees.
This species occurs in two main populations: One found in woodland and forest, mainly near rivers, in the Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
, and a second found in forested foothills of the eastern Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
. The Amazonian Umbrellabird is found variously in small groups, pairs or individually. They are usually seen in or near the canopy but due to their wary behavior and scarcity at open spots they are easily missed for a bird of this size. They are heard in the field more often than they are seen. Fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
and berries are usually preferred but insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s, spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s and insect larvae are eaten opportunistically.
Further reading
- Snow, D.W. (1982). The Cotingas: Bellbirds, Umbrella birds and their allies. British Museum Press. ISBN 0-19-858511-X