Cinnamon-vented Piha (Lipaugus lanioides)
Justification This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it has a small and fragmented population and range that is undergoing a continuing rapid decline owing to the extensive loss of Atlantic forest.
Identification 28 cm. Dull cotinga. Brownish-grey overall. Faint scaled effect on crown. Slightly paler and duller underparts. Warmer brown wings, tail and crissum. Similar spp. Screaming Piha L. vociferans is much greyer, tinged olivaceous. Voice Strident whistle kk. Softer than L. vociferans.
Population trend 2,500-10,000
Range & Population Lipaugus lanioides is found in east and south-east Brazil, in Bahia (three sites), EspSanto, Minas Gerais (recent records from five sites), Rio de Janeiro (recent records from three sites), SPaulo, Paran&(recently at only one site) and Santa Catarina (recently at only one site). It has become rare, and known populations are highly fragmented. Most recent records involve only a few individuals at well-known sites. It is perhaps most numerous at the Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve, EspSanto, where the population is estimated in the low hundreds. The species is also common at Pindobas IV, EspSanto, and within Intervales State Park, SPaulo,. Its current and historical status is obscured by identification problems, even of museum specimens.
Ecology It occurs primarily in foothill and lower montane forest, especially where understorey palms are numerous, at elevations of 500-1,000 m, but has also been found in lowland forest in SPaulo and to the south. At Intervales, the species is most common in logged forest, only rarely occurring in primary forest. Birds are most frequently observed 5-25 m above ground-level in the forest shade. The diet includes more than 20 (commonly palm) fruit species as well as insects, while nestlings are fed primarily large insects, and less frequently fruit. Males sing from September to March at solitary display territories or small leks of two or three birds. The nest, attended only by the female, is a small platform of twigs placed in a loose tangle of small branches and vines in the open lower mid-storey (7-8 m). Altitudinal movements may occur, at least in the south of its range where the species has been recorded near sea-level.
Threats The most significant threat is the extensive destruction and fragmentation of Atlantic forest throughout the species's range. The harvesting of Euterpe palms may further affect some populations.
Action It is protected under Brazilian law
