Bird Guide

Amazonian Umbrellabird vs Long-wattled Umbrellabird

Amazonian Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus)

Amazonian Umbrellabird

Cephalopterus ornatus

Large380 gForest

Much larger than the female, the male Amazonian umbrellabird is likely the largest passerine in South America as well as the largest suboscine passerine in the world. The male Amazonian umbrellabird grows to a weight of 480–571 grams (1.06–1.26 lb) and a length of 48–55 centimetres (18.9–21.7 in). The female typically stands 41–44 centimetres (16.1–17.3 in) tall and weighs up to 380 grams (0.84 lb).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Amazonian Umbrellabird
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Napo: 3 km NW Guagua Sumaco, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: unknown · Public domain
Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger)

Long-wattled Umbrellabird

Cephalopterus penduliger

Large338 gForest

The male is 40–42 cm in height, with the female being slightly smaller at 35–37 cm. Both sexes are short-tailed and carry an erectile head crest; those of the males are slightly longer at 20–30 cm. The male is distinguished by a large throat wattle of feathers, while females and juveniles have no or a much smaller wattle. The length of the wattle can be controlled, and it can be retracted in flight. The male generally has black colored shafts in its feathers. The long-wattled umbrellabird's specific name penduliger derives from Latin pendulus, hanging, and refers to the wattle.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Long-wattled Umbrellabird
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · El Oro: Reserva Buenaventura 9 km WNW Piñas, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Amazonian Umbrellabird and Long-wattled Umbrellabird.