English              -              Southern Screamer

Portuguese      -               Tachã

Latin                 -               Chauna torquata

I first photographed the Southern Screamer at Parque das Aves in the state of Parana. Once again, I didn’t rate myself to photograph it in the wild so was content to photograph it at Parque das Aves. It wasn’t until we checked into Passo do Lontra parque hotel in the pantanal that I saw wild Southern Screamers. There was a family of Southern Screamers living within the grounds of the hotel. There was Mum, Dad and 4 young and even though they had made their home within the grounds of the hotel and you could get reasonable close to them. The parents were very protective and would soon tell you if you were getting to close. They are a big bird, so it’s wise to do what you’re told when they start squawking at you. I saw them every day we were there. They would do a circuit of the grounds every day to feed in the swampy grounds of the hotel. All 3 photos were taken at the hotel. Photo No1 was taken on a different day to Photos 2 & 3. 

* The Southern Screamer is also known as the crested screamer.

* They are a big / solid bird with a length of 95 cm, weighs up to 5 kg and with a wingspan of around 170 cm.

* The Southern Screamer utters a very loud trumpet-like sound, often given in flight that can be heard up to 3 km away.

* Some have be domesticated. They make very good guard animals because of their loud deafening call.

* It is found in Bolivia, northern Argentina, southern and western Brazil, with some vagrant in southeastern Peru.  

* The Southern Screamer is found in tropical and subtropical wetlands, such as lakes, marshes, and flooded fields and meadows, usually with scattered trees.

* It eat aquatic plants, seeds, leaves, stems, and some crops. They graze in a similar fashion to ducks and geese.

* The Southern Screamer establishes monogamous relationships that can last several years or the pairs lifetime.

* The female lays 3 to 5 white eggs, with pale spots which are Incubated for up to 46 days. Young fledge at 10 weeks after hatching, and become independent at 12 to 14 weeks of age.

* The Southern Screamer has a large geographical range and a population that appears to be stable, therefore they are classified as a species ”of least concern” on the IUCN red list. However, farmers consider them a pest species because they can raid crops and are shot in some regions. Also, due to wetlands being drained, Southern Screamers have reduced breeding grounds. However, the species seems able to compensate fairly well and adapt.