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.