White-throated piping guan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids White-throated piping guan
In the Pantanal, Brazil
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Pipile
Species:	grayi

The white-throated piping guan (Pipile grayi) is a special bird. It lives in parts of South America, like Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. This bird is considered "near threatened." This means its population is getting smaller, and it needs our help to protect it. It belongs to a family of birds called Cracidae, which includes guans, chachalacas, and curassows.

Meet the White-Throated Piping Guan

Scientists like to group animals together. This helps them understand how different species are related. The white-throated piping guan is one of five species in the Pipile group. For a long time, scientists debated if it was its own species or just a type of blue-throated piping guan. Now, most experts agree it is its own unique species.

What Does It Look Like?

The white-throated piping guan is a medium-sized bird. It is about 60 to 69 centimeters (24 to 27 inches) long. Both male and female birds look very similar.

Feathers and Colors

Most of their body is a dark, blackish color. It has a shiny, light olive or olive-green glow. This shine is brightest on its shoulders, wings, and tail. Its head is very striking. The forehead, top of the head, and back of the neck are white. The feathers on its head are thin, like hair. They have dark streaks from their shafts.

Special Markings

The outer feathers on its wings are also white. These form a large white patch when the wing is folded. The inner wing feathers have white spots. Around its dark reddish-brown eyes, the skin is bare. This skin can be white or a bright cobalt blue. There is also a flap of bare skin under its chin, called a dewlap. This dewlap is also white to cobalt blue.

Beak and Legs

Its beak can be pale blue with a black tip. Sometimes it is black with a pinkish and blue base. The bird's legs are a brownish-red color.

Where Does It Live?

The white-throated piping guan lives in South America. You can find it in southeastern Peru and parts of Bolivia. It also lives in southwestern Brazil and northern Paraguay.

Its Home in the Forest

This bird prefers humid tropical forests. These forests are part of the Amazon Basin. It lives in different types of forest, including terra firme (dry land forest) and várzea (flooded forest). It also likes gallery forests, which grow along rivers. Sometimes, it can be found in cerrado woodlands.

Close to Water

These birds almost always live close to rivers. They usually stay within 100 meters (330 feet) of a river. In Bolivia, they can be found at elevations up to 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) high.

How It Behaves

Movement and Travel

Scientists believe the white-throated piping guan usually stays in one place. It does not travel far. However, it might move short distances. These movements could be to find more fruit when it's available.

What It Eats

The white-throated piping guan mainly eats fruits and leaves. It enjoys fruits from many different kinds of plants.

Foraging Habits

When it's time to nest, these birds look for food in pairs. They might also forage in small family groups. Outside of nesting season, they can gather in larger groups. These groups can have up to 20 birds. They especially like to gather at salt licks. The birds usually look for food high up in the trees. Sometimes, they will feed on the ground under a tree that has lots of fruit. They also often forage with other birds from their family.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

The white-throated piping guan builds its nest high up. It places the nest in the thick branches of the forest canopy. Not much else is known about how these birds raise their young.

Sounds and Calls

The white-throated piping guan is most vocal during its breeding season. It might only make sounds at this time.

Flight Display

It has a special flight display. The bird claps its wings once or twice. Then, it sings its song. The song is about 8 to 10 slow, clear whistles. Each note gets a little longer and goes slightly higher. It sounds like "püüeee, püüeee, püüeee..." This display often happens above the forest trees. It is usually heard at dawn and dusk.

Wing Sounds

Another sound it makes is called "wing-whirring." This involves two quick, quiet wing claps. These are followed by two or three whirring rattles. The sound is made using its wings. It has been compared to the sound of fanning a deck of cards back and forth.

Why It Needs Our Help

The white-throated piping guan is listed as "Near Threatened." This means its population is at risk.

Main Threats

The biggest problems for this bird are two things. One is the loss of its habitat. Forests are being cut down, which means less space for the birds to live. The other problem is hunting. Even with these challenges, the bird seems to be able to live in areas changed by humans. It can also live near human buildings.