Screaming piha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Screaming piha |
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| Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil | |
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| Genus: |
Lipaugus
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| Species: |
vociferans
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The screaming piha (Lipaugus vociferans) is a type of bird known for its incredibly loud voice! It belongs to a bird family called Cotingidae. You can find these birds living in the wet, green forests of the Amazon and the tropical Mata Atlântica in South America.
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Where do Screaming Pihas Live?
The screaming piha is a common bird. It lives in the middle and lower parts of the forest trees. You can usually find them at heights below about 500 meters (1,640 feet). In places like Venezuela and near the Andes mountains, they can live up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) high.
What Does a Screaming Piha Look Like?
A screaming piha grows to be about 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. Both male and female birds look similar. They have dull grey feathers. Their wings and tail are often a bit darker grey. Their belly and chest feathers are a lighter grey. Young pihas are grey with hints of brown or a rusty color.
How Do Screaming Pihas Behave?
Even though the screaming piha has a very loud voice, it can be hard to spot. This is because it stays very still for a long time. It blends in well with the tree branches. Usually, these birds are found alone. But sometimes, they might join a group of different bird species looking for food.
What Do Screaming Pihas Eat?
Screaming pihas mostly eat fruits. They also enjoy eating insects. Sometimes, they will fly out from their perch to grab a fruit. They might also catch an insect right out of the air. They can even hover like a trogon bird to do this!
Why Are Screaming Pihas So Loud?
The call of the screaming piha is super loud! It can reach 116 decibels. This makes it one of the loudest bird calls in the world. Only the white bellbird has a louder call.
During the breeding season, up to ten male pihas might gather together. They form special areas called leks. Here, they sing loudly to attract female birds. You might even hear their sound in movies! It is often used as a typical sound of the Amazon rainforest.
Are Screaming Pihas Safe?
The screaming piha is doing well. It is even getting used to living near people. You can sometimes find them in gardens and parks. BirdLife International says that this bird is of "least concern". This means there are plenty of them, and they are not in danger.
