The Umbrellabird is a mysterious and magical black bird with a pointy crest on its head that looks like an umbrella! They live in the rainforests of Central and South America and make a very deep, booming sound that can be heard far away. These special birds help spread seeds and keep the forest healthy.
Watch a Umbrellabird in Action!
See the umbrellabird’s amazing crest and hear its deep, rumbling call in this fun video.
What is a Umbrellabird?
The umbrellabird is a big, black rainforest bird famous for its umbrella-shaped crest and loud throat pouch. Kids love its dramatic look!
- Belongs to the cotinga family
- Has an inflatable throat wattle to make booming sounds
- Males are larger and have bigger crests than females
Where do umbrellabirds live?
These birds live in tropical rainforests in Central and South America.
- Countries include Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Panama
- They spend time in lowland forests and mountain cloud forests
- Prefer tall trees and lush greenery
What do umbrellabirds eat?
They love fruits, but also enjoy snacks from the rainforest floor.
- Eat berries and fleshy tropical fruits
- Sometimes eat insects, spiders or small lizards
- Help spread seeds when they eat fruit
How big is a Umbrellabird?
Umbrellabirds are large birds that kids can compare to familiar things!
- Length: about 35–50 cm (14–20 in)—about the length of a school ruler
- Weight: around 320–480 g (0.7–1.1 lb)—about the same as a small paperback book
- Wingspan: around 66–80 cm (26–31 in)—about the width of a kindergarten desk + your lunchbox
What sound do umbrellabirds make?
They make a loud, deep “whoop” or booming call using their inflated throat pouch. It can sound like a hippo!
Cool umbrellabird facts
Here are some amazing things about umbrellabirds that will make you smile:
- Males gather in groups called leks to sing for females
- They inflate their throat pouch and crest to attract mates
- One song can be under 300 Hz—very low-pitched
- Females build nests high in trees and raise chicks alone
- They can live up to around 16 years in the wild
- There are three types: Amazonian, long-wattled, and bare-necked umbrellabirds
Printables and coloring fun
Get creative with umbrellabird coloring and games!
Umbrellabirds in the eco‑system
Umbrellabirds help forests and need our care.
- Seed dispersers: spread seeds from the fruit they eat
- Keep insect numbers in balance by eating small bugs
- Amazonian species is Least Concern; long‑wattled is Vulnerable; bare‑necked is Endangered
- Rainforest loss threatens their homes—many live in protected parks
Ask a grown‑up to help you learn more
With help, explore more about umbrellabirds from reliable sites:
Fun questions about umbrellabirds
An umbrellabird is a big black bird with a crest shaped like an umbrella.
Because its crest looks like an umbrella when raised.
Mostly fruit, and sometimes insects or small lizards.
In rainforests from Costa Rica down to South America.
About as long as a school ruler and as heavy as a small book.
Yes—females build high nests in trees and care for chicks alone.
Some types like the bare‑necked are endangered, others are less at risk.
Ways to donate and support umbrellabirds
You can help umbrellabirds by protecting rainforests and donating to groups that save animal homes. Every little bit helps!
Sources: Wikipedia, Live Science, Creative Commons, Britannica.com and Freesound.org
Alphabetical list of animals that start with U
A full alphabetical list of popular animal names that begin with the letter U for toddlers and preschool kids.
- Uakari
- Umbrellabird
- Unau (sloth)
- Unicorn (mythical)
- Urchin
- Urial
- Uromastyx
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