Long-wattled Umbrellabird

In Ecuador, the Long-wattled Umbrellabird is a rare and striking resident of humid Chocó forests on the Pacific slope, from Esmeraldas to El Oro, typically found between 80 and 1,800 meters. Males are known for their dramatic crest and pendulous throat wattle, which they display at communal leks to attract females, while both sexes forage primarily on large fruits, supplemented by invertebrates and small vertebrates. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to ongoing habitat loss, hunting, and fragmentation, with an estimated population of 7,500–15,000 mature individuals. Conservation efforts, including habitat restoration and ecotourism initiatives, are underway to protect remaining populations and reconnect fragmented forest corridors.