Rose-collared Piha
Lipaugus streptophorus
Medium-sized, gray bird of tepui highlands. Male is unmistakable with pink collar and undertail coverts; female lacks pink collar. Generally occurs above 800 meters on tepui slopes, where it is an uncommon resident of the mid-story and canopy of tall forest; moves sluggishly and can be difficult to detect when not vocalizing. Feeds mainly on fruit, and is usually encountered alone but may associate with other species at fruiting trees. Most common vocalization is a single sharp rising whistled note, which may be lengthened and slurred downward, given at fairly long intervals. Size, shape and behavior recall Screaming Piha, which does not occur in tepui highlands.
Identification
The adult male rose-collared piha has the upper parts dark grey and the underparts slightly paler grey, especially on the belly. Round the neck is a conspicuous broad magenta collar and there is a similar patch of colour round the vent. The female is similar to the male but lacks the magenta collar, and the area around the vent is rusty-brown. This bird grows to a length of about 22.5 cm (9 in). The male is unlikely to be confused with any other species, but the female could be confused with the female screaming piha (Lipaugus vociferans), but that species is a uniform grey and lacks the rufous area round the vent. The call is also very different, the rose-collared piha male occasionally emitting a loud, sharp "skreeéyr".
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Lipaugus streptophorus
- Authority
- (Salvin & Godman, 1884)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cotingidae
- Genus
- Lipaugus
Range and habitat
The rose-collared piha has a small range in humid forests in Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. It is usually seen in the middle and upper storeys of the forest, sometimes at the fringes of the woodland, in clearings and in open areas with more widely separated trees. It may be seen singly or in pairs. It feeds mainly on fruit, especially that of Melastomataceae, plucked while in flight.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Wire-tailed Manakin
Pipra filicauda
Spectacular manakin with very long tail filaments and piercing white eyes. Males are bright yellow from the face to the underparts and bright red from the crown to the mantle; otherwise they are black. Females are dull olive-green with a yellow tinge to the chin and breast and have shorter tail filaments. Usually found near streams in humid forests, including gallery forests and old second growth.
Mexican Violetear
Colibri thalassinus
Rather large, overall bright green hummingbird of highlands. Favors pine-oak forest and edge, especially overgrown clearings and roadsides with dense flower banks. Fairly common and is especially conspicuous when singing. Song is a jerky, metallic, chipping song given tirelessly from an exposed twig at middle to upper levels in trees. When feeding often stays fairly well hidden within flowers. Note overall deep green plumage with dark violet cheek and breast patches, and broad dark tail band.
Short-tailed Parrot
Graydidascalus brachyurus
Medium-sized, uniformly bright green parrot with a short tail. Note the indistinct black eye-line, the dusky bill, and the darker green flight feathers; other parrots have more colorful plumage and longer tails. Inhabits seasonally flooded forest along large rivers, occasionally venturing into adjacent urban areas.
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