Cephalopterus ornatus
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%
The Amazonian umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus) is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae native to the Amazon basin with a separate population on the eastern slopes of the Andes. The male bird is entirely black, with a black crest and inflatable wattle on the throat, and at 48 to 55 cm (19 to 22 in), may be the largest passerine bird in South America. The female is slightly smaller. Both have an undulating flight, described as woodpecker-like, and the male has a loud, booming call.
The Amazonian umbrellabird feeds on fruit and berries, and may opportunistically take insects and spiders. It forages singly, in pairs or in small groups, in the forest canopy, hopping from branch to branch, but is a secretive species and is more often heard than seen.
Much larger than the female, the male Amazonian umbrellabird is likely the largest passerine in South America as well as the largest suboscine passerine in the world. The male Amazonian umbrellabird grows to a weight of 480–571 grams (1.06–1.26 lb) and a length of 48–55 centimetres (18.9–21.7 in). The female typically stands 41–44 centimetres (16.1–17.3 in) tall and weighs up to 380 grams (0.84 lb). As in the other... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Podocarpus National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 5 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 6 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 7 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 8 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas World Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Amazonian Umbrellabird sighting in Yasuní National Park on a given day, based on 309 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 183rd most-seen of the 533 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May to March
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Amazonian Umbrellabird in Yasuní National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April, the lowest month.
Between 6 and 9 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Amazonian Umbrellabird sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 8 parks where we can rate Amazonian Umbrellabird sightings, Yasuní National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Podocarpus National Park (Ecuador, about 10%).
Same family: Cotingidae
The closest relatives of the Amazonian Umbrellabird that you can see in Yasuní National Park (family Cotingidae, Cotingas) are Black-tailed Tityra (about 20%), Bare-necked Fruitcrow (about 20%) and Purple-throated Fruitcrow (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Amazonian Umbrellabird is recorded against all the birds logged in Yasuní National Park (309 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
