Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus)

BirdNeotropicalCotinga

Overview

Umbrellabirds (genus Cephalopterus) are large, all-black birds of Central and South American forests, among the biggest members of the cotinga family. They are named for the male's remarkable crest, a forward-curving crown of feathers that can spread over the head and bill like an umbrella. The Amazonian umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus), shown here, also sports a long, feathered wattle that hangs from the throat.

Both the crest and the wattle play a part in the male's courtship, along with deep, booming calls that carry through the forest.

Note: there are three umbrellabird species; details here use the Amazonian umbrellabird as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Umbrellabirds live in humid tropical forests of Central and South America, depending on the species — the Amazonian umbrellabird ranges across forests of the Amazon basin and nearby regions, often near rivers and in tall, mature forest. They favour the canopy and forest edges and may move seasonally between elevations.

Diet

Umbrellabirds are mainly frugivores, eating large fruits — which they can swallow whole thanks to a wide gape — and they help disperse the seeds of many forest trees. They also take insects and other small animals, including the occasional small vertebrate, especially when feeding young. Their fruit-eating makes them important seed dispersers in their forests.

Behavior

During courtship, the male umbrellabird raises and spreads his umbrella-like crest and dangles or inflates his long throat wattle while giving deep, resonant, booming calls — among the lowest-pitched sounds of any forest bird — to attract females and deter rivals. Some umbrellabirds display at loose leks. They are otherwise fairly quiet, canopy-dwelling birds that can be hard to spot despite their size, and the female alone builds the nest and raises the chick.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Umbrellabirds are spectacular but elusive, prized sightings for birdwatchers in Neotropical forests. They depend on large areas of intact forest, so deforestation and fragmentation are the main threats; the Amazonian umbrellabird remains relatively widespread, while some relatives (such as the bare-necked umbrellabird) are of greater conservation concern. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific status.

More photos of the umbrellabird