If you were wandering through the rainforest in Trinidad and heard what sounded like a car alarm blaring, you may just have heard the strange call of a male bearded bellbird.
“The male bearded bellbird (Procnias averano) produces a powerful, metallic ‘bonk’ that sounds almost like a hammer striking hollow wood,” says Giselle Ragoonanan, general manager at HADCO Experiences at Asa Wright Nature Centre, which has shared a video of the startling call.
This loud call – like the fleshy beard dangling from its bill – are both part of the males’ strategy to woo a female.
Visitors to the reserve might hear this strange sound ringing through the trees – even if there’s no bird in sight. “In the forest at Asa Wright Nature Centre, the call can travel approximately half a mile so we usually hear the bird long before we see it,” she says.
Because the forest canopy can be so dense, it’s a good idea for bird watchers to have a strong pair of binoculars and plenty of patience. Ragoonanan adds: “Despite the power of the call, the bird itself can be surprisingly difficult to locate in the canopy.”
Image and video credit: HADCO Experiences at Asa Wright Nature Centre
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