Grey-tailed Piha

Overview

The grey-tailed piha, Snowornis subalaris, is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in the Andean regions of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Identification

• Length of 23 to 24 cm and weight of 70 to 90 g.
• Upperparts are bright olive green, with ash gray uppertail coverts and tail.
• Bill is dark horn to black with a paler base, and legs are bluish gray to gray.
• Male song is a clear and ringing 'cheeeer-yeeéng!' with the second syllable higher in pitch than the first.

Habitat

It inhabits the eastern slope of the Andes from far southwestern Colombia south through Ecuador into far northwestern Peru and intermittently to Madre de Dios Department. The species lives in humid montane forest in the foothills and lower subtropical zones, usually occurring between the forest's understory and mid-story at elevations of 500 to 1,500 m.

Diet

The species feeds on fruit and arthropods, foraging mostly singly and seldom joining mixed-species flocks. It perches and moves quietly, taking prey and plucking fruit while perched, briefly hovering, or capturing food in mid-air.

Did you know?

Males have been observed displaying in what may be a lek, though little is known about the species' breeding biology.