Three-wattled Bellbird

The Three-wattled Bellbird is a large, unmistakable cotinga of Central American cloud forest, named for the male's three long, thin, worm-like black wattles that hang from the base of the bill, one from each side of the gape and one from the center, swinging and twisting as the bird moves or calls. Males have a rich chestnut-brown body with a contrasting white head and throat, while females are plain olive-green with yellowish, faintly streaked underparts and lack any wattles.

The species is an altitudinal migrant, breeding in mid- to high-elevation cloud forest and moving to lower elevations, including the Caribbean lowlands, outside the breeding season in search of fruiting trees. Males deliver one of the most explosive and startling calls in the Neotropics, a loud, sharp "BONK" that can be heard ringing through the forest from a considerable distance.

Key field marks

• Males: chestnut-brown body, white head and throat, three long black wattles hanging from the base of the bill
• Females: plain olive-green above, yellowish streaked underparts, no wattles
• Stocky cotinga build
• Extremely loud, explosive "BONK" call, often heard before the bird is seen

Similar species

• Bearded Bellbird has a single curtain-like beard of wattles rather than three distinct wattles, and occurs in South America rather than Central America.
• No other Central American bird shows the male's combination of chestnut body, white head, and triple wattles.

Habitat

Breeds in montane cloud forest, typically 1,000-2,500 m elevation; moves to lowland and foothill forest outside the breeding season.

Range

Found from Honduras south through Costa Rica and Panama, with the largest populations centered on Costa Rica's Monteverde and Talamanca regions.

Migration

An altitudinal migrant, breeding in highland cloud forest and descending to lowland forest, including Caribbean-slope lowlands, for the non-breeding season, tracking the fruiting of favored tree species.

Behavior

Males perch prominently and call persistently from exposed canopy perches to attract mates, often returning to the same favored calling perches across seasons; otherwise inconspicuous and often solitary.

Voice

An extraordinarily loud, explosive "BONK" call, one of the loudest sounds produced by any bird, along with sharper accompanying notes during display.

Feeding

Feeds almost entirely on fruit, particularly wild avocados and other lipid-rich fruits, and is an important seed disperser for many cloud forest trees.

Nesting

Males do not participate in nesting; females build a flimsy platform nest and raise the single chick alone.