Horned Screamer
We did not hear any vocalizations of Horned Screamer, which is in a small family whose members are known for their loud calls (like the species in the Trumpeters family such as Pale-winged Trumpeter www.flickr.com/photos/luminouscompositions/52627123599/in... ). However, we did see Horned Screamers on the ground, perched at the top of trees (as in this image), and in flight. The latter made especially apparent the large size of this species. The ‘horned’ part of the common name comes from the growth projecting from the crown: a unique structure among birds that is not plumage and which grows continuously, though subject to breakage. Another distinctive feature of this species, visible on the wings of the bird at left in this photo, are the pointed spurs at the bends in the wings. These quite long and sharp growths are wielded during altercations over territory. Horned Screamer occurs widely in lowlands of northern South America. These individuals were part of a group of least seven seen at Cocha Machuwasi, a small lake accessible by trail near the world-famous Manu Road in Peru.
Horned Screamer
We did not hear any vocalizations of Horned Screamer, which is in a small family whose members are known for their loud calls (like the species in the Trumpeters family such as Pale-winged Trumpeter www.flickr.com/photos/luminouscompositions/52627123599/in... ). However, we did see Horned Screamers on the ground, perched at the top of trees (as in this image), and in flight. The latter made especially apparent the large size of this species. The ‘horned’ part of the common name comes from the growth projecting from the crown: a unique structure among birds that is not plumage and which grows continuously, though subject to breakage. Another distinctive feature of this species, visible on the wings of the bird at left in this photo, are the pointed spurs at the bends in the wings. These quite long and sharp growths are wielded during altercations over territory. Horned Screamer occurs widely in lowlands of northern South America. These individuals were part of a group of least seven seen at Cocha Machuwasi, a small lake accessible by trail near the world-famous Manu Road in Peru.