Trumpeters are crane-like birds belonging to the family Psophiidae and included in the only genus Psophia. They live in the Amazon. Such an unusual name was received for the scream published by the males, associated with the sound of the trumpet.
The trumpeter bird resembles a chicken in size. The length of her body rarely exceeds 50 cm, and the mass approaches 1 kg. The head is small, the neck is elongated. The back is arched, the tail is shortened. Beak short, bent down, sharp. Rounded feathers give it a somewhat awkward look. Legs are long with a high back toe.
The plumage color is dark, but the different color of the inner side of the wings caused them to be divided into three types: serospin trumpeter, green-winged trumpeter, white-winged trumpeter. Chicks of all types during hatching have black-brown fluff, which only after 1.5 months will be replaced by a characteristic plumage.
Reluctantly, a trumpeter bird flies. She prefers to eat in the lower tier of the forest. Slices of fruit, nuts, dropped by monkeys, parrots and other inhabitants of the upper forest tiers, as well as various insects and their larvae make up her diet.
These birds are social in their way of life; they move in search of food for groups of up to 12 individuals. In the dry season they can walk along
vast territory. Often there are meetings of relatives, who run to each other as a whole group quickly and silently. Having approached, they make characteristic loud noises, wave their wings, and shout. The battle lasts until the weaker group escapes.
In groups of these birds a hierarchy is developed. A weaker individual crouches, approaching the dominant, and the individual slightly twitches its wings in response. The leader periodically requires food that his subordinates willingly bring to him. In their free time from food searches, members of the group can arrange imaginary fights, flap their wings, and create imitating lunges. Night trumpeter bird spends on a tree. After some time intervals, group members shout, indicating that there is order on their territory.
By social organization, the trumpeter bird differs from many representatives of birds. Their cooperative polyandry, i.e. cohabitation of the dominant female with several strong males, was brought about by their nature. With this mode of existence, the probability of saving offspring from predators is significantly increased.
About 60 days before laying the eggs, courtship begins. The bird of the crane-like order is puzzled by the search for a place for the nest. As a rule, it is based on a fork in large branches or in a high tree hollow. Strong males begin the ritual feeding of the dominant female and dance in front of her. Between them there is a competition for the right to own. Having made a choice, the female turns backwards, demonstrating readiness for copulation.
There are about 3 eggs in a clutch. Periodic incubation is carried out by the female and all the males of the group. This period lasts approximately 27 days. Hatching chicks at the initial stage are completely dependent on adult individuals.
An interesting fact: the golden-chested trumpeter bird, who lives in Africa, is able to make sounds similar to drum roll. Since it is easily tameable, the natives of those places began to use it for guard purposes.
