Gray-winged Trumpeter
Psophia crepitans
Chicken-sized and oddly proportioned terrestrial bird of tall rainforest that is common where not hunted. Peculiar shape, behavior, and tendency to occur in large groups render this species difficult to mistake for any other. Groups walk through forest, flicking wings nervously while feeding on insects, small vertebrates, and fallen fruit. Often seen crossing roads through forested regions. Can be extremely noisy, especially when startled; bizarre calls include a variety of grunts, wails, and screams.
Identification
The grey-winged trumpeter is a chicken-like bird with a long neck and legs and a hump-backed profile. It is 45 to 52 centimetres (18 to 20 in) long. Two males weighed 0.82 and 1.02 kg (1.8 and 2.2 lb) and six females weighed between 0.79 and 1.06 kg (1.7 and 2.3 lb). The sexes are similar in appearance. Their stout, slightly decurved, bill is yellowish green and their legs and feet greenish olive. Their plumage is mostly black. The nominate subspecies has green or violet iridescence on the lower neck. Its inner wings and rump are ashy gray and the middle of the back is ochre to chestnut. Subspecies P. c. napensis has bronzy or purple iridescence, lighter gray wings and rump, and a more ferruginous back. P. c. ochroptera has entirely ochraceous wings, rump, and middle back.
Taxonomy
The grey-winged trumpeter's taxonomy is unsettled. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC), the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society, and the Clements taxonomy assign it three subspecies: the nominate P. c. crepitans, P. c. napensis, and P. c. ochroptera. Some authors treat P. c. ochroptera as a subspecies of the pale-winged trumpeter (P. leucoptera) and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World treats it as a separate species, the ochre-winged trumpeter. In addition, there has been some suggestion that the other two subspecies also warrant treatment as species.<p>This article follows the three-subspecies model.
- Scientific name
- Psophia crepitans
- Authority
- Linnaeus, 1758
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Psophiidae
- Genus
- Psophia
Range and habitat
The grey-winged trumpeter is a bird of the northern Amazon Basin. The nominate subspecies is found from southeastern Colombia east through eastern and southern Venezuela and the Guianas and south into Brazil to the Amazon River east of the Rio Negro. P. c. ochroptera is found in northwestern Brazil north of the Amazon and west of the Rio Negro. P. c. napensis is found from southeastern Colombia south through eastern Ecuador into northeastern Peru and east into extreme northwestern Brazil north of the Amazon.<p>The grey-winged trumpeter inhabits dense lowland tropical rainforest. Within that broad category it favors landscapes away from human habitations and with an open understory and many fruiting trees. Despite being mostly a bird of the lowlands it sometimes can be found in higher elevation cloudforest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The grey-winged trumpeter is a gregarious species that lives in flocks of up to about 15 birds of all ages. Each flock maintains a territory that could be as large as about 85 ha (210 acres).<p>The grey-winged trumpeter is entirely non-migratory and tends to move only within the flock's territories. It does not cross major rivers.<p>Adult grey-winged trumpeters feed mostly on soft fruit that has fallen to the forest floor. Though much of it has been knocked loose or picked and dropped by squirrel monkeys or arboreal birds, it tends to persist so the trumpeters do not need follow monkey troops. Fruits eaten are usually those of large trees but trumpeters will pick fruit from shrubs as well. About 10% of their diet is small arthropods, some of which they capture when following army ant swarms. Chicks are fed a greater percentage of arthropods when young. Adults also eat small vertebrates but only rarely.<p>Grey-winged trumpeters are polyandrous and cooperative breeders. Up to three males mate with the dominant female of the flock, and all members contribute to raising the young. The species usually nests in holes in trees that have been excavated by other species, and sometimes also in natural breaks where for instance a trunk has split. They do not build a nest in the hole. They apparently time their breeding so the eggs hatch at the beginning of the local rainy season when fruit, and especially insects, are abundant. The clutch size is two to four eggs but usually three.<p>All trumpeters are highly vocal. The grey-winged trumpeter's song is a low humming "wuh-wuh-wuh wuh wuh - -". Its alarm call is "loud, harsh 'GRAH' notes".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Philippine Coucal
Centropus viridis
A large, long-tailed bird of open or disturbed areas from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Entirely black except for rufous wings. A black-winged race from Mindoro occurs, as does an uncommon white form on Luzon. Forages for insects and other animal prey, on or close to the ground. Similar to Black-hooded Coucal, but has a black rather than brown belly and is found in more open habitats. Much larger than Lesser Coucal. Voice includes a slightly descending series of repeated “wok!” notes and a short, explosive “jek-wok-wok!”
Green Pheasant
Phasianus versicolor
Endemic to Japan and the national bird. The male is striking with bottle-green underparts, purplish-blue neck and head with red facial skin. Upperparts are intricately patterned brown and powder-gray with a long, pointed tail. Females are entirely brown with spotted and scalloped pattern. Inhabits fields, hedgerows, and brushy areas. Female could be confused with female copper pheasant although that species is more tied to forest. Male gives a far-carrying “ko-kyok!” followed by a noisy wing flutter. Flushes loudly with an explosion of wings and hoarse calls.
Bismarck Fantail
Rhipidura dahli
Mostly deep rufous above with a grayish head and a black eye mask bordered above and below by pure white. Underside pale cinnamon. Long, often fanned tail has a dark band toward the end. Found mostly in montane forest above 500 meters of elevation, but occurs locally in lowlands. Like Northern Fantail but smaller and rufous above, lacking the pure white throat. Song is a squeaky “swift-tootectootoowi.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.