Habitat of an Umbrella Bird

The umbrella bird, also known as Cephalopterus, lives in South and Central American rainforests. There are different species of umbrella birds, including the Amazonian umbrella bird, the long-wattled umbrella bird and the bare-necked umbrella bird, according to Avian Web.com. The different types of umbrella birds have slight variations in their habitats and travel patterns.

  1. Migration

    • Umbrella birds migrate by altitude and not across a span of land, according to Avian Web.com. They breed in high altitudes, and travel back to low altitudes when breeding is finished. Their migration patterns can range from around 2,600 to 6,500 feet when breeding, to below 1,600 feet when not breeding. There are populations of the umbrella bird that are sedentary, despite the fact that it is an altitude migrant species, according to Avian Web.com.

    Amazonian Umbrella Bird

    • The Amazonian umbrella bird is the only variation of the umbrella bird that is not considered to be vulnerable despite its dropping population, according to Bird Life International. This is due to the fact that it has a large range that it travels, unlike the long-wattled umbrella bird or the bare-necked umbrella bird whose ranges are more limited.

    Long-Wattled Umbrella Bird

    • This variety of the umbrella bird lives "on the Pacific slope from southwestern Colombia through Ecuador," according to Avian Web.com. Unlike the Amazonian umbrella bird, the long-wattled umbrella bird is vulnerable due to the destruction of its habitat. They breed high up in trees in nests that are made up of loose twigs. Long-wattled umbrella birds, like most umbrella birds, migrate from the foothills when they are not mating, to higher altitudes when breeding season begins. They do not fly very well, and so can be found walking around the canopy of the rainforest, according to Avian Web.com.

    Bare-Necked Umbrella Bird

    • The bare-necked umbrella bird typically exists in Costa Rica and in the mountains of Panama, according to Bird Life International. Its population is decreasing, just like the other varieties of umbrella birds, due to deforesting. They can often be found on fruit trees, and their diet consists of fruit and small animals.

    Threats

    • The number of umbrella birds is declining because a lot of their non-breeding habitat is being destroyed, according to Bird Life International. Their natural habitat continues to be deforested to create banana and pineapple plantations.