High in the canopy of Paraguay’s Atlantic forest, a metallic chime rings out at dawn. It is not a church bell, nor a hammer striking bronze, but the unmistakable call of the pájaro campana (Procnias nudicollis). Known in Guaraní as Guyra pu or Guyra pong, “the resonant bird” (and more poetically, Ára pong: “the humming of time), this striking species has long captured the imagination of scientists, musicians, and storytellers alike. Meet Paraguay’s national bird pájaro campana: the bellbird.
A bird of history and habitat
The bellbird inhabits the subtropical Atlantic forests of eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, and southeastern Brazil. It is a medium-sized bird, with males measuring approximately 28 centimetres in length and weighing around 200 grams, while females reach about 26 centimetres and weigh 150 grams. The bellbird prefers the upper canopy of humid forests, where its snow-white plumage and turquoise bare throat stand out against the green foliage.
Its call consists of a single metallic note repeated several times, yet despite its distinctive appearance and sound, the bird is more often heard than seen. For it remains elusive, blending into the dense forest.
Over the centuries, however, the bellbird’s range has diminished. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation have confined it to ever smaller patches of forest. Today, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists pájaro campana as “Near Threatened”, with only around 3,500 of them thought to remain in Paraguay.
Recognising its cultural and ecological importance, Paraguay declared the bellbird the national bird in 2012, seeking to ensure its protection through laws, reserves, and conservation campaigns.
Legends in sound
Pájaro campana‘s extraordinary call has inspired myths and legends. One colonial-era tale tells of a monk who was murdered, after which the bell of his church continued to toll mysteriously. That bell, it was said, transformed into the bird whose metallic voice still echoes through the forest.
Guaraní mythology offers another, more dramatic account. According to Girala Yampey’s Mitos y Leyendas Guaraníes, the jaguar (jaguarete) once challenged all the animals to prove who had the strongest voice. When a small white bird accepted, the jaguar roared so fiercely that the forest trembled. The bird responded first with delicate metallic notes – trin… trin… – that seemed unimpressive.
Then, suddenly, he unleashed a deafening pong… pong…, so powerful it startled the jaguar himself. From that day, says the legend, only the male bellbird carried this divine voice, a gift from Ñanderu Tupã (the Supreme Creator) to humble arrogance.
These stories embed the bellbird in both Guaraní cosmology and colonial imagination, linking it to resilience, mystery, and divine justice. Its call represents not only nature’s voice but also power, freedom, and the passage of time.
A bird that became music
Among Paraguay’s greatest cultural legacies is the celebrated folk polka Pájaro Campana, a piece inspired by the bird’s call. Traditionally performed on the Paraguayan harp, the composition begins by imitating the bellbird itself: sharp, crystalline notes that echo like a small hammer striking an anvil. At first, these tones fall sparsely, separated by long pauses – just as the bird sings with intervals between its chimes. Gradually, the sound becomes more insistent, the notes following each other in quicker succession, until the rhythm gathers force.
At this point, the harp’s flowing harmonies enter. Expert fingers glide across the strings, weaving a luminous accompaniment around the metallic pulse of the opening motif. The music feels at once delicate and powerful, echoing the mystery of the forest and the proud defiance of the bird in Guaraní legend.
Watching a harpist play Pájaro Campana is as much a visual experience as an aural one. Often dressed in a traditional poncho, the performer carries a serene, almost meditative expression, as though channelling the calm strength of the bird itself. In the audience, the effect is irresistible: heads begin to nod gently in time, hands tap against knees, and feet mark the rhythm on the floor. The music creates a shared pulse, binding listeners together in a collective sway that echoes the timeless chime of the forest.
A dance that embodies courtship and celebration
The song is not only heard; it is also danced. In traditional performances, women wearing Paraguay’s characteristic garments grasp the edges of their long, colourful skirts in each hand, swaying gracefully from side to side. Their male counterparts, dressed in black trousers, white linen shirts and straw hats, circle around them, snapping their fingers in sync with the lively beat of the polka.
The dance embodies both courtship and celebration, weaving elegance with vitality. For people growing up in Paraguay, the dance of Pájaro Campana is more than performance. It is heritage. It remains a rite of passage for schoolchildren across Paraguay, who learn the choreography as part of their cultural education. Through these lessons, each generation experiences the union of bird, music, and dance, taking its place in a living tradition that continues to resonate as strongly as the bellbird’s own call.
Remarkably, the Pájaro Campana melody also crossed international borders. The British rock band The Rolling Stones incorporated an interpretation of the song in the bridge of “On with the Show” from their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request. The bellbird motif is played on the harp, credited to Brian Jones, while Nicky Hopkins contributes piano and other instrumentation. The piece blends the metallic chimes of the bird’s call with psychedelic rock, highlighting the global reach of Paraguay’s folk heritage.
Elusive treasure of the forest
For birdwatchers, encountering pájaro campana is both a challenge and a privilege. The Mbaracayú Reserve in Canindeyú is one of the best places to hear it, particularly in the early hours of spring mornings. It is during breeding season (September to November) when males are highly vocal and active, making their distinctive bell-like calls to attract mates. Often, visitors and birdwatchers alike hear its chime long before they manage to glimpse the elusive white silhouette perched high in the canopy.
The bird has become a focal point for Paraguay’s ecotourism, drawing enthusiasts eager to experience its legendary voice.
