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Long-wattled Umbrellabird female by Dušan M. The first Long-wattled Umbrellabird nest was only discovered by scientists in 2003. Male umbrellabirds show off by raising their crests, inflating and swinging their long wattles, and making loud, grunting calls and low-frequency booming sounds which can be heard up to almost a mile away.Īfter mating, the female builds a loosely-built platform nest of twigs, incubates the eggs, and broods her chicks alone. Like other birds such as Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Pin-tailed Manakin, male Long-wattled Umbrellabirds gather at established sites, called “leks.” Here, they display to females, who visit to pick the “best” male to father their brood. Sign up for ABC's eNews to learn how you can help protect birds They are rather clumsy flyers and prefer to hop from branch to branch within the tree canopy. Long-wattled Umbrellabirds prefer the mid-level to upper story of tall trees. And, since this is a large and relatively conspicuous species, some local people capture them as pets, for sale to third parties, or to eat.

Intensive agricultural development is a major deforestation factor, especially for oil palm and banana plantations and livestock-farming. The biggest threat to the Long-wattled Umbrellabird is habitat loss due to development, logging, road-building, and gold mining. This long wattle is covered in short, scaly feathers, and when inflated, looks somewhat like a pine cone! During mating season, the male puts these ornaments into action.įemales and immature birds are only half the size of males, and the wattle is much smaller or absent altogether.

The all-black male sports a crest of fine, hair-like feathers that hang all the way over its bill, giving it the look of having an “umbrella.” This unusual species also has an inflatable wattle dangling from the middle of its chest.