Snowornis subalaris
The Grey-tailed Piha (Snowornis subalaris) is a modestly plumaged member of the Cotingidae family, standing approximately 16.5-17.5 cm (6.5-6.9 inches) in length and weighing around 38-42 grams. Its overall appearance is dusky grey, subtly darker on the back and crown, contrasting with a paler grey belly and a distinctive white central throat patch, which serves as a key field mark. The undertail coverts exhibit a soft yellowish wash, adding a touch of color to an otherwise subdued palette. U...
The Grey-tailed Piha inhabits humid montane and cloud forests, often favoring forest edges and clearings, typically found at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,300 meters above sea level.
Primarily insectivorous, the Grey-tailed Piha captures insects through sallying flights; it also supplements its diet with small fruits, which it gleans from branches.
This piha generally forages alone or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks in the mid-canopy or understory. It is typically a rather sedentary bird, perching quietly and scanning for prey before making short, agile sallies to snatch insects from foliage or in mid-air. Territorial be...
The Grey-tailed Piha is an endemic resident of the humid eastern slopes of the Andes, distributed across a relatively linear range spanning southern Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. In Colombia, its presence is noted in the departments of Putumayo and Nariño. Its distribution continues south...
Least Concern
- The Grey-tailed Piha's common name, 'Piha,' is onomatopoeic, derived directly from its loud, distinctive 'peee-yah' or 'wheeeooo' calls that resonate through the Andean cloud forests. - Unlike its often brightly colored Cotinga relatives, the Grey-tailed Piha exhibits remarkably subdued, dusky ...