Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Vulnerable because climate change impacts are feared to cause a rapid reduction in range size in the future.
Population justification
The population is suspected to number 1,000-2,499 individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for congeners or close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This estimate is equivalent to 667-1,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 600-1,700 mature individuals (J. V. Remsen in litt. 1986). The species appears to be generally uncommon, but may be overlooked (Snow and Sharpe 2020).
Trend justification
The species is undergoing a decline, which is thought to be caused by the loss, fragmentation and degradation of forests within the range; it is becoming rarer particularly in disturbed areas (Snow and Sharpe 2020). Over the past three generations (15.3 years), about 2% of forest has been lost (Global Forest Watch 2021). Assuming that population declines exceeded the rate of forest loss due to the additional impacts of habitat degradation, the population may have been declining at <10% over the past three generations.
Projecting climate change impacts on the distribution range in Bolivia indicate that the range size may be reduced considerably by the end of the 21st century, at a rate equating to up to 50% over the next three generations, though this assumes the precautionary scenario of no dispersal taking place (Avalos and Hernández 2015). The population is therefore tentatively suspected to decline at a rate of up to 30-49% over the next three generations.
Lipaugus uropygialis is confined to the subtropical Yungas (east slopes of the Andes) of central and west Bolivia (eight known localities in Cochabamba and La Paz) and south-east Peru (Abra de Maracunca, Puno and Alto Urubamba, Cusco) (Remsen et al. 1982, B. Hennessey in litt. 1999, Bryce et al. 2005, B. P. Walker in litt. 2007, Vriesendorp et al. 2004). Recent records from Madidi National Park, La Paz and the north-east side of the Cordillera Cocapata, Cochabamba (Hennessey and Gomez 2003, Bryce et al. 2005) suggest that it occurs in the two largest expanses of previously unexplored Bolivian and Peruvian Upper Yungas. Gaps in its range may reflect observer coverage (J. Balderama, T. Gallick, S. K. Herzog, M. Kessler, R. S. Ridgely, J. Rossouw, T. S. Schulenberg, B. P. Walker and B. Woods per B. Hennessey in litt. 1999), or may be genuine gaps in distribution as in e.g. Southern Helmeted Curassow Crax unicornis (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999). Described as uncommon and local (Snow 1982, Ridgely and Tudor 1994), like other Andean pihas it appears to be a naturally low-density species (J. V. Remsen in litt. 1986).
The species inhabits humid, subtropical, montane forest at 1,800-2,750 m (Remsen et al. 1982, Snow and Sharpe 2020). Old-growth forest may be required at some stage in its life-cycle, although it has been seen in degraded forest at the Peruvian site (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999, Bryce et al. 2005). Within primary forest it is apparently restricted to specific spots, often associated with ridges, suggesting it may have unknown microhabitat requirements and therefore may not occur in all apparently suitable forests within its range (Bryce et al. 2005). It is absent from some areas of former occurrence that have now been affected by forest disturbance associated with road construction (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999). It has been seen accompanying mixed-species flocks (Ridgely and Tudor 1994, J. Balderama, T. Gallick, S. K. Herzog, M. Kessler, R. S. Ridgely, J. Rossouw, T. S. Schulenberg, B. P. Walker and B. Woods per B. Hennessey in litt. 1999). Stomach contents of one specimen comprised berries and fruit (Snow 1982), and it has been recorded eating fruit, flycatching and eating a caterpillar (J. Balderama, T. Gallick, S. K. Herzog, M. Kessler, R. S. Ridgely, J. Rossouw, T. S. Schulenberg, B. P. Walker and B. Woods per B. Hennessey in litt. 1999, B. Hennessey in litt. 1999, Bryce et al. 2005). It is unobtrusive but responds to tape playback (B. P. Walker in litt. 2007). It has been observed in groups of up to four birds, especially when displaying, but appears to be genuinely rare and local even in pristine forest (Bryce et al. 2005, B. P. Walker in litt. 2007).
Road construction, low-intensity agriculture, selective logging and, at lower altitudes, clearance for plantations of tea, coffee and coca affect its habitat, although extensive areas of largely undisturbed forest remain (Dinerstein et al. 1995, B. Hennessey in litt. 1999). These threats are likely to increase. Furthermore, the species may require old-growth forest, making selective and small-scale logging a more serious threat than it is to other birds endemic to the Yungas (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999). Areas near the Peruvian locality have been extensively or completely deforested, owing to thousands of years of human land-use (J. Balderama, T. Gallick, S. K. Herzog, M. Kessler, R. S. Ridgely, J. Rossouw, T. S. Schulenberg, B. P. Walker and B. Woods per B. Hennessey in litt. 1999). Climate change may cause a rapid reduction in range size within the next few decades (Avalos and Hernández 2015).
Conservation Actions Underway
It has been recorded in the extreme north-west of Carrasco National Park, Cochabamba, and in Cotapata National Park, La Paz (B. Hennessey in litt. 1999, J. Balderama, T. Gallick, S. K. Herzog, M. Kessler, R. S. Ridgely, J. Rossouw, T. S. Schulenberg, B. P. Walker and B. Woods per B. Hennessey in litt. 1999), as well as Madidi, Isiboro-Secure and Amboró National Parks, and Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve, in Bolivia (Snow and Sharpe 2020); also Alto Urubamba in the newly-created Megantoni National Sanctuary, Cusco, Peru (B. P. Walker in litt. 2007, Vriesendorp et al. 2004).
26-30 cm. Dull grey cotinga. Darker above and duskier on wings. Rufous belly and rump are difficult to see when perched. Long tail. Male has narrow and strongly recurved primaries. Female primaries are much less modified. Voice A noisy, variable shriek like an Aratinga parakeet, each burst consisting of individual notes that rise and fall sharply, with groups of individuals giving a more complex combination of shrieks (Bryce et al. 2005).
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Balderama, J., Benstead, P., Gallick, T., Hennessey, A.B., Herzog, S.K., Kessler, M., O'Brien, A., Remsen, J., Ridgely, R.S., Rossouw, J., Schulenberg, T., Sharpe, C.J., Stuart, T., Symes, A., Temple, H., Walker, B.P. & Woods, B.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Scimitar-winged Piha Lipaugus uropygialis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/scimitar-winged-piha-lipaugus-uropygialis on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.