Anhima

Anhima is a genus of large waterfowl in the family Anhimidae. It contains a single living species, Anhima cornuta, the horned screamer, native to tropical wetlands of northern South America. Along with Chauna species, it is one of the two extant lineages of Anhimidae.

Taxonomy and distinguishing features: Anhima is monotypic. It is more closely related to crested screamers than to ducks, and belongs to the order Anseriformes. A distinctive horn-like casque on the crown gives the horned screamer its name.

Description: A large, stocky bird with a long neck, broad body, and strong legs. Plumage is brownish gray; the head bears a prominent keratinous casque that projects forward. Adults are similar to juveniles, but the casque is most conspicuous in adults.

Distribution and habitat: Found in lowland tropical wetlands of northern South America, in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Its range includes parts of Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It favors marshes, reedbeds, and river margins.

Behavior: Horned screamers are usually seen in pairs or small flocks, feeding on grasses, aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in shallow water. They are capable fliers and emit loud, distinctive calls that echo across wetlands.

Reproduction: Nests are built near water from vegetation. Clutch size is typically several eggs, with both parents incubating and tending the young. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest soon after hatching.

Conservation: The IUCN lists the horned screamer as Least Concern. Its broad range and presumably large population buffer it against decline, although ongoing wetland loss may impact local numbers.