What Is an Umbrella Bird?

There are three different species of umbrella bird (cephalopterus), and they are the largest type of perching bird to be found in South America growing to 20 inches in length.

  1. Description

    • The umbrella bird is black in color and gets its name from the tuft of feathers on its head that resembles an umbrella. The wattle on the birds neck inflates and amplifies the loud noise this bird makes.

    Habitat

    • Umbrella birds can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America. They can be found at around 6,000 feet above sea level during the mating season and then tend to live in the lowlands during other parts of the year.

    Diet

    • Umbrella birds mainly feed on fruit and small insects. Occasionally they will eat small vertebrates such as lizards.

    Reproduction

    • Females gather in areas called a lek and then watch the males who call loudly and show off their wattle in an attempt to attract the male. The female builds her nest and raises her chicks with no help from the male.

    Species

    • The three types of umbrella birds are the long-wattled, the Amazonian and the bare-necked umbrella birds. The bare-necked umbrella bird is considered vulnerable due to the loss of its rainforest habitat.