Northern Screamer

Overview

The northern screamer (Chauna chavaria) is a species of bird in the family Anhimidae found in the waterfowl order Anseriformes. It is a monotypic species distributed across northern Colombia and Venezuela.

Identification

• Stout bodied with a disproportionately small head, ranging from 76 to 91 cm in length.
• Plumage features a gray crown with a long crest, a mostly white face, a wide black band around the neck, and a dark gray body, wings, and tail.
• Characterised by bare red skin around brown eyes, reddish orange legs and feet, and two sharp spurs on the wing manus.
• Vocalization includes a single, high-pitched yelping call described as 'kleer-a-ruk, cherio'.

Habitat

Found across northern Colombia from the Atrato River and Magdalena River valleys east into the Lake Maracaibo area of Venezuela. It inhabits a variety of wet landscapes including swamps, marshes, lagoons, riverbanks, and seasonally flooded river plains.

Diet

Feeds on the leaves, stems, and roots of aquatic plants. It usually grazes like geese, sometimes in loose flocks.

Did you know?

Despite being assessed as Least Concern with an estimated population of 60,000-130,000 mature individuals, the species still faces threats from egg collecting, hunting, pollution, and urbanization. It previously held a Near Threatened status until 2023 when population estimates were revised upwards.