Gray-headed Piprites Piprites griseiceps Scientific name definitions

An enigmatic species restricted to lowlands on the Caribbean slope of Central America, the Gray-headed Piprites is the least studied of its genus, and the species seems to be very infrequently seen throughout much of its range. It is mainly recorded below 800 m, although there are occasional sightings marginally higher. The Gray-headed Piprites inhabits the understory and middle levels of tall lowland evergreen forest and second growth, but seems to descend lower at gaps and edges. Our cumulative knowledge of this species’ life history is very poor. It is usually seen alone or in pairs (and presumably also in family groups post-breeding, like congenerics). However, like other Piprites it also joins mixed-species feeding flocks, especially those involving small antbirds and greenlets, although several other species have also been recorded in such associations. The Gray-headed Piprites is very similar in plumage to the entirely allopatric Wing-barred Piprites (Piprites chloris) and these two probably form a species-pair.

12 cm; 16 g. Rather long-tailed for a manakin, and with tyrannid-like coloration and big-eyed, staring look. Has slate-grey head, conspicuous white eyering; olive-green upperparts, wing feathers with paler yellow-green margins; yellowish-olive below, paler and yellower on throat and belly; iris dark; bill blackish, paler lower mandible; legs grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile has olive-coloured head.

Extreme E Guatemala and N Honduras S, mainly in Caribbean coastal areas, to extreme W Panama (Bocas del Toro).

Occupies forest and adjacent tall secondary growth; mostly at 100–600 m, locally up to 750 m.

No information.

Small fruits and insects, taken in flight sallies. Often joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Main calls a soft, liquid, rolling “purrr” and soft “chip” notes; song an elaborate, structured medley of staccato and rolling notes.

Apparently unrecorded.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Central American Caribbean Slope EBA. Poorly known species. Uncommon to rare, and local; previously considered Near-threatened. Very few records in N & S parts of range; only one record from Guatemala. Occurs in Braulio Carrillo National Park and La Selva Biological Reserve, in Costa Rica.