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.
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.
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]
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.
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.
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]
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.