Neotropical bellbird
Neotropical bellbird (or simply bellbird) is the common name given to passerine birds of the genus Procnias, found in the Neotropics. They are members of the cotinga family. In some parts of their range, they are sometimes referred to as "araponga". They are all restricted to tropical or subtropical humid forested regions, often in low mountains or foothills. As indicated by their common name, they all have extremely loud calls that are reminiscent of a metal bell being rung.
Neotropical bellbird | |
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Bearded bellbird (Procnias averano) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Cotingidae |
Genus: | Procnias Illiger, 1811 |
Species | |
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Three of the four species are restricted to South America, while the last, the three-wattled bellbird, is restricted to southern Central America.
They are strongly sexually dimorphic. Males have an at least partially white plumage, and facial wattles or bare facial skin. Females lack the wattles/bare facial skin, and are overall olive with yellowish streaks below.
Species list
Genus Procnias
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
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Procnias tricarunculatus | Three-wattled bellbird | Costa Rica, to eastern Honduras, Nicaragua and western Panama | |
Procnias albus | White bellbird | Guianas, Venezuela and Pará (Brazil) | |
Procnias averano | Bearded bellbird | Venezuela (+ adjacent parts of Colombia and Guyana), Trinidad & Tobago and northeastern Brazil | |
Procnias nudicollis | Bare-throated bellbird | Atlantic forest and adjacent moist areas | |
Further reading
- Snow, D.W. (1982). The Cotingas: Bellbirds, Umbrella birds and their allies. British Museum Press. ISBN 0-19-858511-X
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Procnias. |