Bird Guide

Dusky Piha vs Rufous Piha

Dusky Piha (Lipaugus fuscocinereus)

Dusky Piha

Lipaugus fuscocinereus

Medium138 gForest

The dusky piha is the largest member and has the longest tail of genus Lipaugus. They are 31 to 33 cm (12 to 13 in) long and weigh 120 to 138 g (4.2 to 4.9 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have medium gray upperparts and duskier gray wings and tail. Their underparts are paler gray with a brownish wash on the breast and belly. They have a dark brown iris, a dark brown or blackish bill with a paler base to the mandible, and gray legs and feet. Immatures have rufous tips on the wing coverts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Dusky Piha
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Zamora-Chinchipe: Reserva Tapichalaca, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Eric Gropp from USA · CC BY 2.0
Rufous Piha (Lipaugus unirufus)

Rufous Piha

Lipaugus unirufus

Medium82 gForest

The rufous piha is 22 to 26 cm (8.7 to 10 in) long; six individuals weighed 79 to 97 g (2.8 to 3.4 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a rufous crown with thin, somewhat lighter, streaks. The rest of their face and their upperparts are deep cinnamon brown. Their wings and tail are deep cinnamon brown with deep ochraceous buff inner webs on the remiges. Their underparts are buffy cinnamon that is darker and duller on the breast. Subspecies L. u. castaneotinctus has darker, more chestnut cinnamon upperparts than the nominate. Voice: The calls of the nominate subspecies of the rufous piha are described as "a very loud, scratchy, electric-sounding WIIII'WERRRE! or Peuuur-WIIII'WERRRRE!, or just a single peeuuurr". Those of subspecies L. u. castaneotinctus are similar, "a variety of loud and explosive whistled calls, e.g., peeeéuw, wheeeéo, and chow-eeéo" that are sometimes given in a short series.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rufous Piha
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Esmeraldas: 18.5 road km NNW Alto Tambo, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Daniel Ghyselinck · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Dusky Piha and Rufous Piha.