Bird

Long-wattled Umbrellabird

Cephalopterus penduliger

Males sport an extraordinary, feathered throat wattle reaching up to 35 cm in length, which inflates like a fleshy ornament during courtship beneath a thick, overarching crest. In the dripping canopy of the Chocó bioregion, these elusive birds gather at traditional lek trees where males project low, resonant, foghorn-like booms across mountain ravines. Essential to forest regeneration, they swallow massive palm nuts and laurels whole, dispersing heavy canopy seeds that few other birds can manage.

Cloud ForestFrugivoreVocal Display

1 / 4

—observations

—countries

—peak records

VulnerableConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyArecaceae fruits, Lauraceae fruits, Cicadas

Predators

Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Black-and-chestnut Eagle
Ocelot

ThreatsDeforestation, agricultural expansion, road construction, and logging

HabitatsHumid premontane foothill forests and wet cloud forests

Life span10–15 years

Classification

FamilyCotingidae
SpeciesCephalopterus penduliger

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice: Look for a large, all-black silhouette with an umbrella-shaped crest and an exceptionally long, feathered neck wattle hanging over the breast.
Support conservation: Observe strictly from marked reserve trails, avoid flash photography, and hire accredited local community guides.

Responsible observation

Acoustic tracking: Listen at dawn for low, bovine-like humming echoing through misty cloud forest ravines.
Lek etiquette: Maintain quiet stillness from a blind or trail when observing traditional display perches.
Fruiting palms: Scan fruiting canopy trees where these large cotingas forage silently between lek sessions.

Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…