Umbrella Bird, the popular name of a singular South American bird, placed by the latest authors among the chatterers (ampelidoe), subfamily gymnoderince or fruit birds, and genus cephalopterus (Geoffr.). The bill is stout, long, flattened, gradually curved, with the tip notched and slightly hooked; wings moderate, rather pointed, with the third quill longest; tail short and rounded; toes long and slender, with curved claws. The C. ornatus (Geoffr.) is about as large as a crow, glossy black, with violet, blue, and metallic reflections on the crest and pectoral appendage. The head of the male is surmounted by a large crest of 50 to 80 feathers springing from over the nostrils, the lower half a white stiff shaft, and terminating each in a tuft of black hair-like feathers spreading in all directions, but principally forward; it arises from a contractile skin on the top of the head, and when erected almost hides the bill from view; it is 5 in. in length and about 4½ in. wide, somewhat resembling a beautiful blue umbrella. The skin of the neck is very loose, and from it grows a cylindrical fleshy process, about as thick as a goose quill, 1½ in. long, from which extends a tuft of imbricated feathers, bordered with metallic blue, and hanging down several inches.

It is found in the islands of the great South American rivers, feeding principally on fruits; it is arboreal, and utters a very loud and deep note, which has gained for it from the tribes of the Rio Negro the name of piper bird. - The araponga or bell bird (procnias alba, Thunb.) is about 12 in. long and pure white; it has a singular cylindrical fleshy appendage, with a few small feathers, rising from the base of the bill; the mouth is very wide; the voice resembles the tolling of a bell, and may be heard, according to Waterton, nearly three miles, and during the heat of the day, when most other birds are silent; it is a native of the forests of tropical South America.

Umbrella Bird (Cephalopterus ornatus).