The Crested or Southern ScreamerChauna torquatais native to southeastern Peru, northern Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina (see range map). The Southern Screamer establishes monogamous relationships that last its lifetime, estimated to be 15 years. The red skin around its eyes gives it a mysterious looking appearance.
The name comes from vocalizations which are extremely loud and obnoxious. They are not melodic and yet the calls are extremely loud and can be given for hours on end. It is said that when a group is rising from a swamp and calling, the noise can be deafening.
The screamers are a small family of birds, the Anhimidae. The three species in this family are: