Birds
Bare-necked Umbrellabird
Cephalopterus glabricollis
Inflating a bare orange throat wattle beneath an umbrella-like crest, a male bare-necked umbrellabird performs a courtship display unlike that of almost any other bird in its limited Costa Rican and Panamanian cloud forest range.
Overview
The bare-necked umbrellabird, Cephalopterus glabricollis, is a Vulnerable bird restricted to cloud forest and adjacent habitat in Costa Rica and western Panama. Its umbrella-like crest, inflatable throat wattle, and seasonal altitudinal movements make it one of the most visually distinctive and range-restricted cotinga-family birds found anywhere in Central America.
A crest and a wattle built for display
Between its overhanging crest and its bare, inflatable throat wattle, the bare-necked umbrellabird carries two separate striking ornaments, both likely playing a role in the courtship displays that set males apart during the breeding season.
Status
Vulnerable, with a declining population as deforestation and fragmentation continue to reduce the limited cloud forest range it depends on for seasonal altitudinal movement.
Bare-necked Umbrellabird: common questions
Why is it called the umbrellabird?
It carries a large crest of feathers that overhangs the bill, resembling an umbrella, a feature that gives the species its common name.
What is the bare-necked umbrellabird's throat wattle for?
Males display a bare, inflatable throat wattle during courtship, a striking visual signal that adds to the species' already distinctive appearance alongside its umbrella-like crest.
Where is the bare-necked umbrellabird found?
It is restricted to cloud forest and adjacent habitat in Costa Rica and western Panama, moving seasonally between lower and higher elevations.
Why is the bare-necked umbrellabird Vulnerable?
Deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its already limited range have reduced the forest it depends on for its seasonal altitudinal movements.