Lipaugus weberi
The Chestnut-capped Piha (Lipaugus weberi) is a magnificent, medium-sized passerine bird, a member of the Cotingidae family, renowned for its striking, yet subtle, appearance and incredibly loud vocalizations. Both sexes share a similar plumage, presenting a dull grey body with darker grey wings and tail, dramatically contrasted by a distinct rufous-chestnut cap that gives the species its common name. Measuring approximately 24-25 cm (9.4-9.8 in) in length and weighing between 70-88 grams (2....
This species primarily inhabits the understory and mid-canopy of humid montane cloud forests and mature secondary forests, typically found at elevations between 1,400 to 1,900 meters above sea level.
Its diet consists predominantly of fruits, particularly those from trees in the Lauraceae and Melastomataceae families, supplemented by a smaller proportion of large insects and other invertebrates.
The Chestnut-capped Piha is largely a solitary and cryptic bird, despite the extraordinary loudness of its calls, often observed alone or in pairs. It is a diurnal species, spending its days foraging and calling from fixed perches within the forest understory. Males are particularly vocal, emitti...
The Chestnut-capped Piha boasts an exceptionally restricted and fragmented geographic distribution, being endemic solely to central Colombia. Its known range is confined to a few isolated mountain ranges within the Andes of Antioquia Department, primarily on the northern slopes of the Cordillera ...
Critically Endangered
- The Chestnut-capped Piha was only formally described in 2001, making it one of the most recently discovered large Neotropical birds. - It is entirely endemic to Colombia, found only in a small, fragmented region of the central Andes. - Despite its relatively dull plumage, its rufous-chestnut ca...