Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta)

Order: Anseriformes | Family: Anhimidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

horned screamer
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru

horned screamer
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Brazilian Amazon

horned screamer
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru

horned screamer
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Southeast Peru


Identification & Behavior: ~89.5 cm (35.2 in). The Horned Screamer is large, mostly black with a white belly. It has white speckles on the crown, neck and wing covers. Note spiny shaft projecting from crown and spurs on wings. It feeds on leaves on lake edges and weedy river shores where it is frequently seen in pairs. Its loud trumpeting vocalizations carry a long distance. It is similar to the Southern Screamer, which is a rare visitor to Peru.

Status: The Horned Screamer is fairly common in the Amazonian lowlands. It also occurs in Ec, Co, Bo, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Gritador Unicornio o Camungo

Sub-species: Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta) Linnaeus 1766

Meaning of Name:  Anhima: Tupi (Brazilian). Refers to a large bird. cornuta: L. Cornotus: horn.

See more of the Family Anhimidae  peru aves

Distribution Map
horned_screamerVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 7/09/2014.