Cotingas
The Umbrellabirds (Cephalopterus) belongs to the cotinga family.
Other Common Names
English: Bullbird; French: Coracine ombrelle; German: Nacktkehl-Schirmvogel; Spanish: Pájaro Paraguas de Cuello Desnudo.
Distribution / Habitat
They live in the South and Central American rain forests. Their numbers are decreasing as the Umbrellabird’s habitat is destroyed.
The Umbrellabird is an altitudinal migrant (it migrates to different altitudes in the mountains instead of migrating across the land). Umbrellabirds breed in high-altitude cloud forests of the subtropical belt, at an altitude of 2,600 to 6,500 ft (800-2,000 m). During the non-breeding season, they live in lowlands and mountain foothills (mostly below 1,600 ft = 500 m).
Description
The Umbrellabird has a tuft of forwards-facing black feathers on its head, giving it its name. It has a chunky body, a heavy, wide bill, and a big head. Any of several tropical American birds of the genus Cephalopterus, especially C. ornatus, have a retractile, umbrellalike black crest and a long, feathered wattle.
Diet
Umbrellabirds eat fruit and small animals (including anoles, frogs, insect larvae, and large insects).
Reproduction
Umbrellabirds gather in small groups in order to choose a mate. In these areas, the females watch the loudly-calling males and choose their mate. This area is called a “lek.”
Species
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- Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Cephalopterus penduliger
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- Amazonian Umbrellabird, Cephalopterus ornatus
- Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Cephalopterus glabricollis
Species Research by Sibylle Johnson
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