Umbrellabird is the common name referring to three species of birds in the genus Cephalopterus. They are named for their distinct umbrella-like hoods.
The umbrellabird was described by Sir Alfred Wallace, a companion of Charles Darwin, in the 1800s while on an expedition to South America. Umbrellabirds face habitat loss, and two of the three species are at risk of extinction.
Basic Information
Umbrellabirds can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America. They are generally solitary, but known to co-inhabit areas with other birds including other umbrellabirds, and similar species such as woodpeckers.
With a total length of , it is among the largest members of the cotinga family, and the male Amazonian umbrellabird is the largest passerine in South America. The typical weight of an umbrellabird ranges from , with a wingspan reaching about .
Umbrellabirds are thought to live for an average of 16 years in the wild.
Physiology
The umbrellabird is almost entirely black, and has a conspicuous crest on the top of its head, vaguely resembling an umbrella (hence its common name). This bird has strong legs, short feet, acute claws, broad wings, and a thick bill. All have an inflatable wattle on the neck, which serves to amplify their loud, booming calls. From this loud and deep voice, it has received its Indian name ueramimbé, meaning "piper-bird". It utters its call early in the morning and in the afternoon. The umbrellabird finds flying difficult because of its large size, but can indeed fly short distances, although it tends to be relatively slow and clunky in the air. So, it exhibits hopping between different branches with the help of its clawed toes. Females resemble males, but are noticeably smaller and have a reduced crest and wattle.
Behavior
The lifestyle of the umbrellabird is diurnal, which means that it searches for food during the day time and roosts at night. The umbrellabird feeds on fruits, large insects, and occasionally small vertebrates (e.g. lizards). As it feeds on seeds or ingests a seed while eating a fruit, it plays a role in its native ecosystem by distributing the seeds across the forest floor, which spreads the plants' range.