Chauna chavaria
The Northern Screamer (Chauna chavaria) is a magnificent and unique large waterbird, instantly recognizable by its dark slate-grey plumage, stark white face and neck patch, and distinctive black crown. Reaching an impressive length of 88-99 cm (35-39 inches) and a wingspan of approximately 1.7 meters (67 inches), it typically weighs 3.4-4 kg (7.5-8.8 lbs). Its most striking features include a small, bony horn on its forehead (though often broken) and two sharp, prominent spurs on the leading ...
Found primarily in lowland tropical freshwater wetlands, including swamps, marshes, flooded grasslands, and occasionally mangroves, typically below 500 meters elevation but up to 800 meters.
Their diet consists predominantly of herbaceous vegetation, including leaves, stems, and seeds of aquatic plants, with occasional consumption of small invertebrates.
Northern Screamers are diurnal, spending their days foraging and often congregating in large, noisy communal roosts in trees or on the ground at night. They are primarily grazers, walking through shallow water or on land to feed on vegetation, occasionally dabbling. During the breeding season, pa...
The Northern Screamer is a resident species, with its distribution confined to specific regions of northern South America, primarily within Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. In Colombia, populations are found along the Caribbean lowlands, particularly in the Magdalena River valley and associat...
Least Concern
- The Northern Screamer possesses two sharp, bony spurs on each wing, which it uses as formidable weapons for defense against predators and territorial disputes. - Unlike most waterfowl, its feet are only partially webbed, making it more adept at walking on land and through dense vegetation than ...