Kingdom Animalia Scientific name Perissocephalus tricolor Higher classification Perissocephalus Order Passerine | Family Cotingidae Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Genus Perissocephalus
Oberholser, 1899 Similar Passerine, Crimson fruitcrow, Guianan red cotinga, Purple‑throated fruitcrow, Bare‑necked fruitcrow | ||
The capuchinbird or calfbird (Perissocephalus tricolor) is a large passerine bird of the family Cotingidae. It is monotypic within the genus Perissocephalus. It is found in humid forests (up to 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) but mostly below 600 m) in north-eastern South America, almost entirely north of the Amazon River and east of Rio Negro (Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and The Guianas).
Contents
Capuchinbirds displaying at a lek in guyana
Description
The capuchinbird is a large thick-set suboscine passerine with a relatively heavy bill. Adults weigh between 340 and 420 grams (0.75 and 0.93 lb; 11.99 and 14.82 oz) and are typically around 40 centimetres (15.75 in) long, making it the largest suboscine passerine apart from the Amazonian and long-wattled umbrellabirds – indeed females average larger than any female umbrellabird. Its plumage is overall rich brown, approaching orange on the belly and undertail coverts, and the remiges and short tail are black. The most distinctive feature is its bare, almost vulture-like head covered in dull blue skin. Juveniles resemble adults, with the exception of some downy feathers on the head. They gather in leks where they “sing”. The “song” is very odd and difficult to describe accurately, although some have compared it to the distant sound of a chainsaw or (as indicated by its alternative name “calfbird”) a cow mooing. They eat mainly fruits and insects.
