Birds
Southern Screamer
Chauna torquata
Announcing its presence with a trumpeting call audible for kilometres, a southern screamer walks across South American wetland and grassland on sturdy legs, sharp spurs on its wings ready for any rival that gets too close.
Overview
The southern screamer, Chauna torquata, is a Least Concern bird native to wetland and grassland habitat across central South America. Its extraordinarily loud trumpeting call, its spurred wings used in territorial combat, and its large, goose-like body despite a distant relationship to true waterfowl make it one of the more distinctive and unmistakable birds found anywhere on the continent.
A voice that carries for miles
Few South American birds can be heard from as far away as the southern screamer, whose trumpeting call travels for kilometres across open wetland, often announcing the bird’s presence long before it comes into view.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across suitable wetland and grassland habitat throughout central South America.
Southern Screamer: common questions
Why is it called the southern screamer?
This species produces a loud, trumpeting call audible for several kilometres, among the loudest calls of any South American bird, a feature that gives the species its common name.
What are the spurs on the southern screamer's wings for?
This species has sharp spurs on the bend of each wing, used as weapons during territorial disputes with rival birds over mates or nesting space.
Is the southern screamer closely related to geese?
Not especially, despite its large, goose-like body, this species belongs to a family only distantly related to true waterfowl.
Does the southern screamer spend much time swimming?
No, this species spends much of its time walking on the ground across wetland and grassland habitat, rather than swimming like typical waterfowl.