The northern screamer is a Near Threatened species of bird in family Anhimidae of the waterfowl order Anseriformes. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Region
Northern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela, especially around lowland rivers, marshes, and the Maracaibo Basin. Prefers extensive freshwater wetlands, flooded savannas, and oxbow lakes with abundant emergent vegetation. Often uses seasonally flooded pastures and rice fields when natural wetlands shrink. Nests are typically built over shallow water or on floating platforms among dense reeds and sedges.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Northern screamers are large, loud wetland birds with sharp, bony spurs on each wing used in defense. Despite belonging to the waterfowl order, they feed mostly on aquatic vegetation and have air-filled bones that make them unusually light. Their far-carrying duet calls act as territory advertisements and alarms across open marshes.
Diagram of the carpometacarpus of Chauna chavaria, the bone which both manual spurs are attached to. The carpometacarpus consists of several fused bones from both the second digit (yellow) and the third digit (green) of the manus. Keratin caps (blue) cover the spurs and the thumb claw (red).
Temperament
wary and territorial in pairs
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady wingbeats and short soaring glides
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups, maintaining territories year-round. Monogamous pairs build bulky platform nests over water and both parents incubate and guard the young. Adults act as sentinels, often perching on low trees or fences near wetlands.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Very loud, carrying duets of trumpeting, honking notes given in repeated phrases. Calls serve for territory defense and to coordinate between pair members, often delivered from elevated perches.
