About Males
Observing umbrellabirds
Once a lek is discovered, males can usually be found year after year (if they are not disturbed) since dominant males return to the same place (and display branch) once they have established a lekking area. However, one must use great restraint if visiting a lekking site. History has shown that unchecked visits by people to an established lek area runs the very high risk of over stressing the birds, causing them to abandon a lek area permanently. Once gone from the lek area, it is highly unlikely you will find the males again. Lek areas are rare to find and so widely dispersed that making a rediscovery is unlikely. If you happen upon a lek site you have done well, but please do not let your thirst for photos and boasting rites overpower your respect for this severely endangered species. They are already fighting for their lives. We humans need to help, not hinder their survival. Repeated visits, using photographic flashes and too much commotion and noise have proven detrimental to lek sites. Be wise. Enjoy the moment, but give them lots of space and respect. Extinct is forever.
About Male Bare-necked Umbrellabirds
The male Bare-necked Umbrellabird is a large bird, with individuals we have documented measuring approximately 35–40 cm (14–16 inches) in length and weighing between 475-550 grams. They are predominantly black with a distinctive bare patch of loose red skin on their throat and upper chest, which can be inflated like a balloon. The inflated sac is used primarily for displaying during courtship. This scarlet red sac also has a small worm like projection hanging down from its center which is festooned with small feathers along its length. A small cluster of these tiny black feathers at the tip adds to his unique ornamentation.
To add to the male’s impressive repertoire of female attracting traits, the mature male also has a large, umbrella-like crest of feathers on the head, which can be extended or retracted at will. When a mature male extends his crest all the way forward, he can completely cover his sizable beak, creating an animated hairdo that would impress any rock star.
Vocalizations
The male Bare-necked Umbrella bird is best known for his predawn calls, which are often described as a low frequency, guttural boom. Watching the males during their full morning lek display is both fascinating and comical. A calling male pulls in a deep breath while leaning forward to begin inflating his pouch like a balloon, he then tosses his head up and back before quickly returning to full sitting position with a quick pop of his beak all the while sending out his signature boom. The inflated vocal sac may also act as a sort of resonance chamber helping his low booming calls travel through the thick forest. These resonant calls are used to establish territory, communicate with other males and to attract females. The typical early morning display call described above is the most recognized, but males make many other calls and sounds throughout the day, from low growls, hisses, purrs and a sharp caaak call when in pursuit of a rival male or a female. Unless the observer is lucky, or patient enough to sit for hundreds of hours at lek sites, many of these other subtle vocalizations go unheard by most observers.
At The Lek
Each male in this exploded lek has between one and four branches he will use for his daily routine. In all our study areas, 2-3 different lek trees were maintained by each male, with each territory being between 20 and 50 meters apart. For the sexually mature males, most of their time at the lek, starting from first light until minutes before full dark, is spent preening, lounging around in a relaxed position. Occasionally he will clean his perch of all moss and other plants while keeping a watchful eye for any uninvited males. Silent most of the day, he will sit for hours to ensure he is ready for any female that may be looking to mate. If a female happens to appear at the lek, all males in the area go into frenzied displays on their designated perches, flying noisily into the vegetation and chasing each other aggressively. If the female is not entirely driven from the area from all the chaos, the mature male will return to his perch, taking up his booming calls, his head leans and he may even do a fast tap dancing show with his feet along the length of his perch as he tries to impress the female. The dominant male at the lek can be quite forceful in his efforts to push other males out, hoping to convince a visiting female to mate. On many occasions, UCAN researchers have seen the roughness of his actions push the female from his lek area seconds after she arrives as she tries to escape the chaos. It can get so rough that rarely does a female stay more than a minute in the lek area. Once in pursuit of a female, a loud caaak call can often be heard as all males chase her off into the distance.
