Southern Screamer

Identification

The southern screamer is one of the largest birds of southern South America, measuring 83 to 90 cm in length and weighing approximately 4.4 kg. It is a stout-bodied bird with a disproportionately small head and a "chicken-like" grayish-brown bill. The most distinctive feature is a velvety black collar around the base of the neck, contrasting with gray head and upperparts. The front of the neck, breast, and sides are pale gray, faintly mottled and streaked with white, while the belly is unmarked pale gray or white. Wings and tail are dusky, and notably, the wing bears two sharp spurs at the manus—a characteristic feature of screamers. The legs and feet are rosy. Males and females share identical plumage.

Range & Habitat

The southern screamer is distributed across much of eastern South America, found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, with documented vagrants in southeastern Peru. Its range extends from the eastern half of Bolivia south into Argentina as far as Buenos Aires Province, and eastward through Paraguay into southwestern Brazil and Uruguay. The species inhabits tropical and subtropical wetlands, including lakes, marshes, and flooded meadows with scattered trees—environments that provide both open water and grazing opportunities.

Behaviour & Diet

Southern screamers are generally non-migratory, though seasonal movements between coastal and inland areas have been noted in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul. Though excellent swimmers, they prefer moving on the ground and are exceptional fliers and soarers. They feed primarily on leaves, stems, and seeds of aquatic plants, supplemented with some crops, typically grazing like geese, though they occasionally dig for food. Outside the breeding season, they forage in flocks of up to about 100 birds. The species forms long-term pair bonds, sometimes lasting for life, with courtship involving mutual preening and duet calling. Pairs build large nests of sticks and reeds near shallow water, often returning to the same nesting site for several years. Clutches typically contain three to five eggs, sometimes up to seven, laid in October and November. Both parents incubate the eggs for 43 to 46 days and care for the young until fledging at eight to ten weeks.

Best Time & Places to See It

Southern screamers are year-round residents throughout their range, making them observable in any season, though concentrations may vary locally. They are most easily located in the wetland habitats they favour—lakeshores, marshes, and flooded meadows with scattered trees. Argentina, particularly Buenos Aires Province, offers reliable viewing opportunities, as do wetland areas in Paraguay and southern Brazil. October and November are excellent months when breeding birds are actively displaying and calling, making them easier to locate and observe.

Photography Tips

The southern screamer's distinctive black collar and pale underparts provide good contrast for photography. Look for birds in open wetland settings where they can be approached from a distance. Early morning and late afternoon often provide the best lighting for capturing the rosy legs and subtle plumage details. Photographing birds in flight showcases their powerful flight capabilities and wing spurs. Since they often call during flight and when perched, watching for calling birds—identifiable by their loud, characteristic "oh-WOOOW" or "be-SERK" calls—can help locate subjects for photography.