Screaming piha explained

The screaming piha (Lipaugus vociferans) is a species of passerine bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in humid forests in the Amazon and tropical parts of the Mata Atlântica in South America.[1] They are most notable for their extraordinarily loud voice.

Distribution and habitat

The screaming piha is a common bird in the middle and lower parts of the canopy at altitudes below about 500-2NaN-2, or up to 1000-2NaN-2 in Venezuela and the Andean foothills.

Description

The screaming piha grows to a length of about 250NaN0. Both sexes have dull grey plumage (wings and tail often somewhat duskier) and the underparts are paler grey. Juveniles are grey tinged with brown or rust.[2]

Behavior and ecology

The screaming piha is an elusive bird despite its distinctive voice, remaining still for long periods and blending in with tree branches. It is usually solitary, but may sometimes join a mixed species foraging group.

Diet and feeding

Screaming pihas feed mainly on fruits, but also consumes insects, sometimes flying out from its perch to pluck a fruit or catch an insect in the air with a trogon-like hover.

Vocalizations and mimicry

The call of the screaming piha is extraordinarily loud,[3] reaching 116 dB, second only to that of the white bellbird.[4] [5] In the breeding season, up to ten males may gather in loose leks, where they sing to attract females. The sound is frequently used in movies as a sound typical of the Amazon rainforest.[6]

Status and conservation

The screaming piha is adapting well to human settlement areas like gardens and parks, and is considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Screaming Piha - Lipaugus vociferans. www.arthurgrosset.com. 2019-10-25.
  2. Book: Ridgely, Robert S.. Tudor, Guy. Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America: Vol. II, The Suboscine Passerines . 2009 . University of Texas Press. 978-0-292-71748-0 . 762.
  3. NEMETH. ERWIN. 2004-01-01. Measuring the Sound Pressure Level of the Song of the Screaming Piha Lipaugus Vociferans: One of the Loudest Birds in the World?. Bioacoustics. 14. 3. 225–228. 10.1080/09524622.2004.9753527. 84218370. 0952-4622.
  4. Podos. Jeffrey. Cohn-Haft. Mario. 2019-10-21. Extremely loud mating songs at close range in white bellbirds. Current Biology. English. 29. 20. R1068–R1069. 10.1016/j.cub.2019.09.028. 0960-9822. 31639347. free.
  5. News: This is the world's 'loudest bird'. BBC News. en. 2019-10-25.
  6. Web site: Screaming Piha - Lipaugus vociferans - Birds of the World. birdsoftheworld.org. en. 2020-05-26.