Capuchinbird
Encyclopedia
The Capuchinbird or Calfbird (Perissocephalus tricolor) is a species of bird
in the Cotingidae family. It is monotypic
within the genus Perissocephalus. It is found in humid forests in north-eastern South America
, almost entirely north of the Amazon River
and east of Rio Negro. A thickset bird with a relatively heavy bill, 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. 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.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Cotingidae family. It is monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
within the genus Perissocephalus. It is found in humid forests in north-eastern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, almost entirely north of the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and east of Rio Negro. A thickset bird with a relatively heavy bill, its plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
is overall rich brown – approaching orange on the belly and undertail coverts
Covert (feather)
A covert feather on a bird is one of a set of feathers, called coverts, which as the name implies, cover other feathers. The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail.- Wing-coverts :...
– and the remiges and short tail are black. The most distinctive feature is its bare, almost vulture
Vulture
Vulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved scavenging birds, the New World Vultures including the well-known Californian and Andean Condors, and the Old World Vultures including the birds which are seen scavenging on carcasses of dead animals on African plains...
-like head covered in dull blue skin. 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
Chainsaw
A chainsaw is a portable mechanical saw, powered by electricity, compressed air, hydraulic power, or most commonly a two-stroke engine...
or (as indicated by its alternative name Calfbird) a cow mooing.