Wildlifeof Costa Rica
Three-wattled Bellbird
Cotingas, Manakins & Becards
Photo: Cephas · CC BY-SA 4.0
Procnias tricarunculatus
Basic stats
Diet
Fruit only, especially from the laurel family (which includes avocados); disperses the seeds
Habitat
Cloud forest at high elevations when breeding (about March–September), returning to lower elevations, including mangroves, for the rest of the year
Range
Breeds in the mountains of Costa Rica; migrates to western Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama
Size
25–30cm
Weight
About 210g (AVONET, Tobias et al. 2022)
The male three-wattled bellbird has a white head, neck and upper breast, chestnut-brown body, wings and tail, and a black eye-ring, eye-stripe and bill. Three long, black, worm-like wattles hang from the base of the bill, up to 10cm long when extended; they hang limply and are shaken in display, but are not erectile. Females are smaller and olive with yellow-streaked underparts and a pure yellow vent, which helps them hide the nest. Young males look like females until about age 7 (Wikipedia, general species account).
The male's loud, bell-like 'bonk' is one of the most distinctive calls of any bird in the region, and as the species is secretive it is heard far more often than seen. At close range the call is a complex three-part song. In courtship the male approaches a female perched high up and opens his mouth wide to sound the 'bonk' in her ear. The female then builds the nest and raises the young alone; only six nests had been found in Monteverde by January 2019 (Wikipedia, general species account).
On this guide it is a target species of Rincon de la Vieja and Monteverde.
Quick answers
- What does the Three-wattled Bellbird eat?
- Fruit only, especially from the laurel family (which includes avocados); disperses the seeds
- What habitat does the Three-wattled Bellbird live in?
- Cloud forest at high elevations when breeding (about March–September), returning to lower elevations, including mangroves, for the rest of the year
- Where is the Three-wattled Bellbird found?
- Breeds in the mountains of Costa Rica; migrates to western Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama
- How big is the Three-wattled Bellbird?
- 25–30cm
- How much does the Three-wattled Bellbird weigh?
- About 210g (AVONET, Tobias et al. 2022)