Lipaugus uropygialis
The Scimitar-winged Piha (Lipaugus uropygialis) is a medium-sized, strikingly plumaged cotinga, typically measuring around 24-25 cm in length and weighing approximately 60-70 grams. Males are largely sooty gray to dark dusky brown, appearing uniformly dark, while females tend to be slightly paler with a somewhat lighter belly and sometimes faint scaling on the underparts. Both sexes share dark eyes and a stout, dark bill. The most distinctive field mark, and the origin of its common name, lie...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane cloud forests and subtropical/tropical moist montane forests, typically found at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 meters.
The diet of the Scimitar-winged Piha consists primarily of fruits, particularly berries, supplemented by large insects caught through aerial sallies or gleaning.
Scimitar-winged Pihas are generally observed alone or in pairs, often perching quietly and unobtrusively within the dense forest canopy. They employ a 'sally-glean' or 'sally-strike' foraging strategy, launching short flights from a perch to snatch fruit or insects from foliage or in mid-air. Mal...
The Scimitar-winged Piha has a restricted and disjunct distribution along the eastern slopes of the Andes. Its primary breeding range extends from southern Colombia (western Putumayo, eastern Nariño), through eastern Ecuador (Napo, Pastaza, Morona-Santiago, Zamora-Chinchipe), and into northern Pe...
Near Threatened
- The 'scimitar' in its name refers to the uniquely modified, stiff outer primary feathers of the male, which are used to create a distinct mechanical sound during display flights. - This mechanical sound, combined with its loud vocalizations, helps males attract mates in the dense montane cloud ...