Bare-throated Bellbird

Characterized by a striking sexual dimorphism, this medium-sized member of the Cotingidae family is one of the most iconic birds of South America. The adult male measures between 27 and 29 centimeters in length and features a pristine, snow-white plumage that contrasts dramatically with its bare, bright turquoise-green skin on the throat and surrounding the eyes, which is sparsely covered in small, black, bristle-like feathers. In contrast, the female is slightly smaller and exhibits an overall cryptic coloration, with olive-green upperparts and a yellowish underbelly boldly streaked with green. Juveniles resemble the female before undergoing multiple molts to achieve their definitive adult plumage. The species possesses a remarkably wide gape, an anatomical adaptation designed for swallowing large forest fruits whole.

Geographical distribution: Endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome of South America, its range extends across southeastern and southern Brazil (from Alagoas and Bahia south to Rio Grande do Sul), eastern Paraguay, and the northeastern tip of Argentina, specifically restricted to the Misiones province. This species exhibits altitudinal migration, moving down to coastal lowlands or lower river valleys during the winter months, although its distribution is increasingly fragmented due to regional deforestation.

Habitat: Primarily frequents the canopy and subcanopy of humid tropical and subtropical forests, as well as mature secondary woodlands and montane cloud forests. It is most abundant in pristine, undisturbed primary forests containing high densities of fruiting trees. The species occurs from sea level up to elevations of approximately 1,150 meters, requiring continuous forest tracts to maintain viable territories.

Feeding: Highly specialized as a frugivore, it plays a crucial ecological role as a major seed disperser within its habitat. Its diet relies heavily on the drupes of the Lauraceae family, the fruits of the heart-of-palm (Euterpe edulis), and various species belonging to the Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae families. Due to its exceptionally wide bill, it swallows large drupes whole, digesting the fleshy pericarp and subsequently regurgitating the seeds undamaged, which promotes the natural regeneration of the forest flora.

Behavior: Renowned for producing one of the loudest, most piercing vocalizations in the avian world, its call is a metallic, ringing sound resembling a hammer striking an anvil or a loud bell, which can carry for over one kilometer through the dense forest canopy. During the breeding season, males are highly territorial, occupying prominent, high, dead branches known as singing perches to perform acoustic displays and attract females. Outside this period, it is a largely solitary and elusive bird, performing seasonal altitudinal movements driven by food availability.

Nesting: Exhibits a polygynous mating system where males play no role in nest building, incubation, or chick rearing. The female alone constructs a remarkably simple, frail platform nest made of thin twigs and dry vine tendrils, typically placed in a horizontal fork of a tree in the forest midstory. She lays a single egg, which is buff-colored with darker speckles. The female is solely responsible for incubating the egg and feeding the hatchling, provisioning it with a specialized diet composed primarily of regurgitated fruit pulp.

Conservation status: Currently classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. The primary threats facing this species are severe habitat fragmentation and loss of the Atlantic Forest, coupled with illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade, as males are highly sought after by collectors due to their extraordinary and loud vocalizations.