ESR

Endangered Species Research

ESR is a gold Open Access research journal on all endangered forms of life on Earth, the threats faced by species and their habitats, and the necessary steps that must be undertaken to ensure their conservation.

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Online: ISSN 1613-4796

Print: ISSN 1863-5407

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr

Impact Factor2.9 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate68.4% (2024)

Average Time in Review178 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads463.163 (2025)

Volume contents
Endang Species Res 6:223-229 (2009)

Ecology and behaviour of the critically endangered Trinidad piping-guan Aburria pipile

ABSTRACT: From 1997 to 2001 we studied a group of 6 Trinidad piping-guans Aburria pipile, a critically endangered species, in northern Trinidad. The group occupied a home range of 19 ha in highly disturbed secondary forest and around small farms, and often split into smaller groups. They spent 93.6% of the time in the forest canopy >5 m above ground and only 0.2% of the time on the ground (n = 48.1 h). In early morning (n = 18.7 h), they spent 80.3% of their time perched alert, 9.3% preening, 3.9% flying, 3.6% walking, 2.4% feeding, 0.3% drinking, and 0.1% perched flapping. In late afternoon (n = 8.2 h), they spent 78.6% of their time perched alert, 12.8% preening, 3.7% walking, 3.0% feeding, 1.2% flying, and 0.7% drinking. At midday, they eluded observation. They foraged mostly on fruits (occasionally leaves or flowers) of 15 species of plants, with Virola surinamensis (Myristicaceae) constituting the primary item (33.3% of foraging bouts; n = 30). They drank water from epiphytic bromeliads. Drumming displays, produced mechanically by the wings in flight, were given intermittently throughout the morning and rarely in the afternoon. Singing occurred intermittently throughout the early morning and late afternoon. The song consisted of 3 to 7 plaintive whistles rising in pitch, delivered by lone individuals averaging 2.7 songs min–1, in bouts of up to 30 min. Soft piping calls were usually given in a social context. Raised crest feathers appeared to be an aggressive display. Piping-guans rarely interacted with other species of birds. They were relatively unperturbed by human disturbance.

KEYWORDS

Floyd E. Hayes (Co-author)

  • Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Clifmond L. Shameerudeen (Co-author)

  • Department of Biology, University of the Southern Caribbean, Maracas Valley, Trinidad and Tobago

Bryan Sanasie (Co-author)

  • Department of Biology, University of the Southern Caribbean, Maracas Valley, Trinidad and Tobago

Brett D. Hayes (Co-author)

  • Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Carol L. Ramjohn (Co-author)

  • Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Floyd B. Lucas (Co-author)

  • Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago