Rose-collared Piha

Uncommon and somewhat local; a prized tepui specialty. Often unobtrusive and quiet for long spells, then betrays itself with its far-carrying whistle — a genuine target bird that can take effort.

Medium piha, 20-22 cm. Unusually for the genus it is sexually dimorphic: adult male medium gray with a broad pinkish-magenta (rose) collar separating the gray head from the gray back/wings/tail. Female lacks the collar and shows cinnamon-rufous undertail coverts. Otherwise uniform gray gives it a clean, plain piha jizz.

Humid montane and upper-foothill tepui forest, including stunted slope forest and forest borders in the Pantepui highlands; frequents fruiting trees.

Frugivorous; often perches quietly upright at mid to upper levels and can be sluggish/inconspicuous, periodically moving to fruiting trees. Detected far more by voice than by sight.

Most common a single sharp rising whistled note, sometimes lengthened and slurred downward, given at long intervals; males also give a louder rising-falling whistle. Listen on Xeno-canto / Macaulay Library — search 'Lipaugus streptophorus' or 'Rose-collared Piha' (~7 foreground cuts on XC — limited, so study them in advance).

Because XC recordings are few and the bird is quiet, pre-load the rising whistle for yourself and clients, then walk the Escalera listening at intervals and check fruiting trees — the magenta-collared male is one of the great 'reveal' moments of a tepui tour.