Trumpeters

The Psophia genus, consisting solely of trumpeters, is indigenous to South America's Amazon and Guiana Shield's humid forests. Belonging to the Psophiidae family, trumpeters are chicken-sized birds, 45 to 52 cm long, weighing 1 to 1.5 kg, and are recognized for their distinctive trumpeting call. They have a round build with long necks, legs, and curved bills, and exhibit a fur-like plumage that's mainly black with iridescent touches. Variably recognized as three to six species with various subspecies, taxonomic interpretations differ, from conservative classifications like that of the International Ornithological Committee to more liberal ones such as the Handbook of the Birds of the World. Active on the forest floor in large, noisy flocks, trumpeters feed mainly on fallen fruit, insects, and occasionally small reptiles and amphibians, while nesting in tree holes and laying 2 to 5 rough, white-shelled eggs. At night, they roost high in the trees despite their weak flight. In addition to their ecological role, trumpeters have a unique relationship with humans, being kept as natural alarms due to their loud calls and are noted, though not unanimously, for their snake-killing abilities.