North American screamer (SciiFii)

The North American screamer (Chauna virginianus), also known as the ring-necked screamer, is a species of screamer belonging to the order Anseriformes that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, estuaries, lake sides, and riverbanks across North America to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the North American screamer is the northern screamer (Chauna chavaria). The North American screamer averages 81–95 centimeters (32–37 inches) long and weighs 3–5 kg (6.6–11.0 lb). It is one of the heaviest, although not necessarily the longest, of the screamers. The wingspan is around 170 centimeters (67 inches). Among standard measurements, the wing chord measures 54 centimeters (21 inches), the tail 23.2 centimeters (9.1 inches), the culmen 4.5 centimeters (1.8 inches) and the long tarsus 11 centimeters (4.3 inches). The North American screamer greatly resembles the southern screamer (Chauna torquata), however, it has paler feathers and reddish-purple skin around its eyes as opposed to red skin. The North American screamer is a good swimmer, having partially webbed feet, but prefers to move on the ground. The bony spurs on its wings are used for protection against rival screamers and other enemies. Although it is non-migratory, it is an excellent flier. It lives in large flocks, feeding on the ground in grasslands and cultivated fields until nesting season, when birds pair off. Their unfussy diet makes them amenable to domestication and they make excellent guard animals due to their loud screams. The southern screamer establishes monogamous relationships that last its lifetime, estimated to be 15 years. Courtship involves loud calling by both sexes, which can be heard up to two miles away. For the nest the couple makes a big platform of reeds, straws, and other aquatic plants in an inaccessible place near water. The female lays between two and seven white eggs. The couple share incubation, which takes 43 to 46 days. Chicks leave the nest as soon as they hatch, but the parents care for them for several weeks. The fledging period takes 8 to 14 weeks. The conservation status of the North American screamer is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American screamer's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.