The Southern Screamer (Chauna torquata) is a large wetland bird. It is also known as the Crested Screamer. It is in the Anseriformes family of geese.
The Southern Screamer has grey feathers with a black collar around its neck. Its back is dark-grey and its underbelly is light grey. It has a grey crest and a grey beak. It has a red patch around its eyes. It has pink legs.
It screams loudly.
It grows to 95 centimetres (37 inches) long, with a wingspan of 150 centimetres (59 inches). Its tail measures 23 centimetres (9 inches).
The Southern Screamer is native to South American countries, such as south-eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uraguay, and northern Argentina. It prefers tropical and sub-tropical wetlands, such as lakes, swamps, estuaries, and lagoons.
It is a good swimmer. It has partially webbed feet that enable it to swim, but it prefers to be on land most of the time. It is not migratory.
It eats plants, stems, seeds, leaves, and sometimes small animals. It feeds on the ground.
It lives in large flocks.
The male and female form a monogamous pair. The male and female make their nest together. The nest is made of reeds, straw, and aquatic plants. The female lays 2-7 eggs, which hatch after 43-46 days.
It lives for about 15 years.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM