The Family Anhimidae comprises the screamers, a small group of large, bulky, herbivorous birds native to South America. Known for their loud, piercing calls, screamers have strong legs, large feet with sharp claws, and partially webbed toes, which help them move through wetlands and marshes. Unlike most birds, their wings are relatively short and weak for sustained flight, but they are capable of short bursts of flight when threatened. Screamers feed mainly on grasses, seeds, and aquatic plants, and they play important roles in their ecosystems by influencing plant communities in wetland habitats.