Fun Long-wattled Umbrellabird Facts For Kids
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The long-wattled umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) is a umbrellabird of the family Cotinga. Other common names are Dungali, Vaca de Monte, Pájaro Bolsón, Pájaro Paraguas, and Pájaro Toro. They have black bodies and the wattle is covered in short scaly feathers.
The other two umbrellabirds are bare-necked umbrellabird (C. glabricollis) and Amazonian umbrellabird (C. ornatus). All three umbrellabirds have slightly different features except a characteristic umbrella-like crest on their head for which they were given their name.
Also, the long-wattled umbrellabird male species has a long wattle attached to their neck. For females, the wattle is much smaller and is half the size of the male wattle. This bird species are frugivorous.
Long-wattled umbrellabird can co-inhabit with other umbrellabirds and other birds like woodpeckers. These birds migrate to higher altitudes during the breeding season.
These birds are known to spread seeds widely. The main predators of these birds are monkeys, snakes, and birds of prey like eagles and hawks. They face threats from humans as some people steal these birds and try to sell them as pets.
If the facts on this bird were useful, you may also read greater flamingo facts and kea parrot facts.
Long-Wattled Umbrellabird Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a long-wattled umbrellabird?
The long-wattled umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) is an umbrellabird of the genus Cephalopterus and the order Passeriformes. Flying is more difficult for them compared to other bird species. So, they hop from branch to branch using their clawed toes. They are slow fliers and only fly for short distances. The diet of this bird species is omnivorous.
What class of animal does a long-wattled umbrellabird belong to?
The long-wattled umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) is of the Aves class of animals.
How many long-wattled umbrellabird are there in the world?
Long-wattled umbrellabirds (Cephalopterus penduliger) are vulnerable and their populations are declining. As per 2012 data, there are around 6,000-15,000 of these species in the world.
Where does a long-wattled umbrellabird live?
Long-wattled umbrellabirds live in northern parts of South America. This species of umbrellabird occupies the south-western region of Colombia, Province of El Oro in Ecuador. They are found in the bioregion of Tmbes-Chocó-Magdalena and on the sides of the Andes mountains.
What is a long-wattled umbrellabird's habitat?
Due to habitat loss, the existing populations can be found in protected areas. The habitat of long-wattled umbrellabird includes tropical premontane, humid montane, and cloud forests at an altitude of 4,921-5,905 ft (1,500-1,800 m). They are found around tree canopy and mountain ranges.
Who do long-wattled umbrellabird live with?
Long-wattled umbrellabird gathers in groups called 'Lek' during mating season. Otherwise, they are solitary animals.
How long does a long-wattled umbrellabird live?
The exact lifespan of umbrellabirds is unknown. However, the umbrellabirds are known to live up to 12-20 years.
How do they reproduce?
Umbrellabirds mate by the process of lekking. Males gather and display aggressive courtship rituals. Males engage in these rituals in common areas where solitary females migrate during the breeding season.
Males raise their crest, inflates, and swings their long wattle during the ritual. They also produce loud grunt calls and soft booming sounds. Females then pick a male that shows territorial and aggressive behavior.
After mating, the female builds up the nest on trees with twigs. These nests are found on tree branches or tree ferns at an altitude of 15-16 ft (4.5-5 m). The female produces one egg per breeding season.
This is the case with all females of the genus Cephalopterus. The incubation period lasts for 28 days. Only the female incubates her eggs.
The females feed young ones with invertebrates, regurgitated materials, fruits, and vertebrates. The young ones are half the size of the male species. The wattle of these young birds is smaller than the male or almost absent.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of these species is Vulnerable. The population is facing habitat loss due to the destruction by hunting and deforestation.
Long-Wattled Umbrellabird Fun Facts
What do long-wattled umbrellabird look like?
All three species of umbrellabird are similar in appearance with a distinct feature. Also, the female and male have a similar appearance but differ in size.
The height of the male is 15.74-16.53 in (40-42 cm) and that of the female is 14-15 in (36-38 cm). The male has comparatively long wattle covered in short scaly feathers whereas females and young chicks have much smaller (half the size) or no wattle at all.
The length of the wattle can be controlled and this species can retract the wattle in flight.
The male has black shafts in their wattle covered in short scaly feathers. The male has a crest of fine clack feathers on his head.
* Please note that this is an image of a spangled cotinga, one of the members of the Cotingidae family, not a long-wattled umbrellabird. If you have an image of a long-wattled umbrellabird please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
How cute are they?
This bird species is not typically considered to be very cute.
How do they communicate?
This bird species communicates via calls and body language. In the morning, this bird is observed making a 'booh' call.
During the mating seasons, the male tends to produce grunts and booming calls. The male also inflates his wattle and spreads his crest feathers to look like an umbrella during the mating season. It was observed that the behavior of this bird species is similar to that of bare-necked and Amazonian umbrellabird.
How big is a long-wattled umbrellabird?
This bird species are around 8-10 in (20-25 cm) tall. They are around 13.7-16.5 in (35-42 cm) long. Males are bigger than females. The length of males is 15.7-16.5 in (40-42 cm) and the length of females is 13.7-14.5 in (35-37 cm).
How fast can a long-wattled umbrellabird fly?
This bird species are slow and clumsy in flight. They tend to hop from branch to branch.
How much does a long-wattled umbrellabird weigh?
The weight of a long-wattled umbrellabird is unknown. However, umbrellabirds usually weigh around 0.7-1.2 lb (318-544 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
There is no specific name given to male and female umbrellabirds.
What would you call a baby long-wattled umbrellabird?
There is no specific name given to baby umbrellabirds. They are often referred to as chicks.
What do they eat?
This bird species diet consists of insects, fruits, and lizards. Their diet is mainly frugivorous. They feed on fruits like Myrtaceae, Arecaceae, and Lauraceae.
Are they dangerous?
No. This bird is not dangerous to human beings.
Would they make a good pet?
No. They would not make a good pet.
Did you know...
Sir Alfred Wallace, in the 1800s, discovered these species when he was on an expedition in South America.
The Amazonian species are listed as Least Concern and the bare-necked as Endangered.
All three species share the rainforests and lowlands of South and Central America.
Why is it called umbrellabird?
Umbrellabirds are given this name because of the crest on top of their heads; males use them to display during mating rituals. The male birds spread feathers on the crest, which then looks like an umbrella.
What is a group of umbrellabirds called?
The group of umbrellabirds is called flocks. However, during mating, they form a group of males called a lek.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these royal penguin facts or quetzal facts.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Long wattled umbrellabird coloring pages.
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