COSTA RICA: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Day 7)

Three-waddled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculatus), a member of the Cotinga family, was another major target species for our trip.  It is very uncommon, but are often seen in the tiny Curi-Cancha Wildlife Refuge near Monteverde.  The call of this bellbird is considered the loudest of any bird in the world.  The bird opens its mouth widely and no sound is initially emitted as it inhales deeply; then, the silence is broken by the deafening "Bock!" call.  It takes young bellbirds almost 20 months to master this skill. Interestingly,  the call has different dialects depending on the region.  Due to habitat loss, the bellbird has been studied extensively in effort to save from extinction.  Despite this, no nest of this secretive bird has ever been located.