AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN ENInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Endangered — faces a very high risk of extinction if threats are not urgently addressed.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Cephalopterus glabricollis
Bare-necked Umbrellabird
Gould, 1851
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
The Bare-necked Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus glabricollis) is a large, bulky bird, similar in size and shape to a crow. The adult male is an evolutionary spectacle: his plumage is deep black with bluish gloss. Atop his head stands a spectacular crest of long, forward-curving feathers that almost completely cover his bill, giving the appearance of an umbrella. His most bizarre feature is an extensive area of bare, bright scarlet red skin on his throat and chest, at the base of which hangs an inflatable fleshy appendage. The female, in contrast, is considerably smaller, a duller matte black, has a much shorter crest, and completely lacks the bare red area on the neck (or it is reduced to a tiny sliver).
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TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Passeriformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Cotingidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Cephalopterus
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Gould, 1851
Record Completeness
85%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Endemic
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Decreasing
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Dry Season
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Omnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
It is an endemic species to Costa Rica and Panama, and a highly pronounced altitudinal migrant. During its breeding season, it inhabits the canopy and mid-story of mature cloud forests, between 800 and 2,000 meters in elevation (such as in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve). After the breeding season, it descends in complex migrations to the humid lowland forests of the Caribbean coast and some Pacific areas, seeking refuge and food during the heaviest rainy months.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
It is a bird of calm habits. Despite its enormous size, it often goes unnoticed because it perches completely silent and motionless in the mid and upper levels of the forest, flying with slow, heavy wingbeats resembling those of a crow. During the breeding season, males form courtship assemblies called 'leks' in the cloud canopy. They perch on bare branches, inflate their scarlet red gular sac, and project their heads forward to emit their resonant boom, trying to acoustically dominate the valley.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Outside of the loose groups of males singing in leks, it is a strictly solitary bird. It is never observed in flocks and rarely associates with other forest species. The female breeds in complete isolation.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Canopy frugivore / Omnivore.Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Seasonal omnivore, but primarily frugivorous. Its diet is highly specialized on large fruits of the Lauraceae, palm, and Annonaceae families. By spitting out large seeds far from the mother plant, it promotes forest regeneration. They occasionally supplement their diet by catching large insects (katydids, beetles) or small lizards and frogs, especially when feeding their chicks. Their nests are constant targets for toucans, coatis, and monkeys, while adults fear crested eagles and hawks.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Polygynous birds (Lekking). After mating with the most attractive male in the lek, the female leaves to handle all rearing duties exclusively. She is a poor architect: she builds an incredibly loose and fragile cup nest made of thin twigs in the fork of a tree, usually between 4 and 15 meters high in the cloud forest. The nest is so sparse that the single egg can often be seen from below. The female lays 1 heavily mottled egg and incubates it alone. She provisions the altricial chick with insects and fruits until it manages to leave the flimsy nest weeks later.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
35.0 - 41.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
300 g - 500 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.1 - 1
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
24 - 36 Months
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
20 - 22
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males10 - 15 Years
Females10 - 15 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
Jet black body, spectacular umbrella-shaped crest over the bill, and a massive bright red bare patch on the throat and chest with an inflatable sac.
Females Multi-lang
Much smaller. Brownish or matte black coloration. Greatly reduced crest, and total absence of the intense red bare area on the neck.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Guttural Amplifier (Inflatable Throat Pouch): The bare red skin on the male's chest is not only a dramatic visual signal to attract females in the dark forest, but it functions as a resonating chamber. By inflating it, he amplifies his deep guttural call, allowing low frequencies to penetrate long distances through the dense fog and mountain vegetation.
Wide Gape: Like its relative the bellbird, it possesses an adapted skull with an immensely wide-opening mouth. This allows it to swallow without chewing gigantic, slippery fruits (like wild avocados from the Lauraceae family), spitting out the large seed shortly after, making it an invaluable forest engineer.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Deforestation of Biological Corridors: Its main threat. As they migrate from the high mountains to the lowlands every year, the loss of forested corridors at intermediate elevations interrupts their journey, leaving them without food on their route to wintering forests.
Hunting and Human Interaction: Due to its large size (similar to a small turkey or crow), its meat has historically been consumed. Furthermore, its strange appearance makes it a target of poaching out of curiosity or for the illegal pet trade.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
The Canopy Roar: Its song is one of the strangest sounds in the avifauna. It is not a melodic song, but a very deep, prolonged, and resonant 'BOOOM', similar to the moo of a bull, the growl of a large feline, or the sound of wind blowing over the neck of an empty bottle.
Drastic Dimorphism: The adult male invests enormous amounts of energy in his appearance (crest and red chest) and display, weighing almost 40% more than the female. However, young males are identical to females, allowing them to hide from predators while they mature over several years.