Horned Screamer vs Northern Screamer
Anhima cornuta compared with Chauna chavaria
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Horned Screamer | Northern Screamer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anhima cornuta | Chauna chavaria |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anhimidae | Anhimidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 110.6 cm (43.5 in) | 98.6 cm (38.8 in) |
| Weight | 3450.0 g (121.70 oz) | 2345.6666666666665 g (82.74 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes arctic grasses and sedges in summer; winters on coastal marshes and agricultural fields; eats … | Herbivore; grazes upland grasses and sedges; arctic breeder wintering on coastal salt marshes and agricultural … |
| Clutch Size | 2-7 | 2-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Horned Screamer
Tropical freshwater marshes, seasonally flooded savannas, lake margins, and forest-edge wetlands from Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas south through the Amazon basin to Bolivia and northern Brazil.
Northern Screamer
Freshwater marshes, wet savannas, lake edges, and seasonally flooded grasslands in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Associated with low-lying wetlands near large rivers and estuaries.
Song & Call Comparison
Horned Screamer
An extremely loud, far-carrying 'SKREEEEEE-ow' call — one of the loudest Neotropical waterbird calls. Pairs duet with overlapping screams audible over 3 km. Highly vocal.
Northern Screamer
Loud, far-carrying screaming calls given in chorus by flocks. Call is a ringing 'cchaaaaa'. Less commonly heard than Horned Screamer but still highly vocal in wetland habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Horned Screamer
Ranges across central South America from southeastern Brazil to Bolivia and Argentina. Sedentary in dry Chaco and cerrado.
Northern Screamer
Endemic to the Falkland Islands. Non-migratory; inhabits grasslands and coastal vegetation year-round on this remote archipelago.
Conservation Status
Horned Screamer
Northern Screamer
How to Tell Them Apart
Horned Screamer
Mostly black plumage with white spotting on wings; white belly and flanks. Distinctive white forehead patch. Long, slender whitish horn projecting from crown. Bare red eye-ring. Sexes similar.
Northern Screamer
Mostly gray plumage; head and neck grayish with black crown and nape. Bare red facial skin around eye. White cheek patches. Underparts grayish-white. Legs red. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Horned Screamer
A large turkey-sized waterbird with black-and-white plumage, a long bony horn protruding from the forehead, and spurs on its wings. Inhabits tropical marshes and forest-edge wetlands across Amazonia. Often perches conspicuously atop tall trees and calls loudly. Feeds on aquatic vegetation.
Northern Screamer
A large grey-and-white waterbird with a short grey crest, red bare facial skin, and bony wing spurs. Found in freshwater marshes and wet savannas of Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. Forms monogamous pairs, calling loudly and carrying far. Feeds on aquatic plants and grasses.