Photo: anthrotect / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Screamer
Chauna chavaria
Northern Screamer (Chauna chavaria) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of South America.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Screamer (Chauna chavaria) is a member of the Anhimidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anhimidae Screamers
- Genus Chauna
- Species chavaria
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.6 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anhimidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Screamer feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Northern Screamer is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Screamer (Chauna chavaria) is a species of bird in the Anhimidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA n Colombia and nw Venezuela.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.6 kg, with a wing length of about 49.3 cm and a tail of around 19.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 91,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Screamer?
The Northern Screamer is a very large bird that weighs around 2.6 kg.
Where does the Northern Screamer live?
The Northern Screamer is found across South America with a range covering SA n Colombia and nw Venezuela, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Northern Screamer belong to?
The Northern Screamer (Chauna chavaria) belongs to the Anhimidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Northern Screamer eat?
The Northern Screamer feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Northern Screamer migrate?
The Northern Screamer is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern Screamer endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Northern Screamer make?
4 real field recordings of the Northern Screamer — including its song, call and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Northern Screamer's range?
The Northern Screamer has a mapped global range of about 91,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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