Pava Rajadora
Blue-throated Piping Guan
Pipile cumanensis
Song
Blue-throated Piping-guan
Appearance: The Blue-throated Piping-guan is a distinctive bird with a mostly black plumage, red legs, and a prominent blue throat patch, after which it is named. Its long tail feathers are white-tipped, and it has a red wattle around the eye. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males typically larger and more brightly colored than females.
Habitat: The Blue-throated Piping-guan inhabits humid forests, ranging from lowland to montane regions. In Colombia, it can be found in various forested habitats, including both primary and secondary forests.
Behavior: These birds are generally shy and elusive, preferring to remain hidden in the forest canopy. They are primarily arboreal, foraging for fruits, seeds, and small invertebrates in the upper levels of the forest. Blue-throated Piping-guans are known for their distinctive vocalizations, including the loud, piping calls from which they derive their name. Breeding:
Breeding behavior in Blue-throated Piping-guans typically involves the formation of monogamous pairs. They construct nests in trees, where the female lays eggs and both parents participate in incubation and caring for the young.
Conservation Status: The Blue-throated Piping-guan faces various threats in Colombia, including habitat loss due to deforestation, hunting for food and illegal trade, and fragmentation of its range. In Colombia and other parts of its range, the species is classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Distribution
Pacific Region (Chocó): The Pacific Region, especially in the Chocó biogeographic region, is known to be an important area for the Blue-throated Piping-guan. The humid forests here provide suitable habitat for the species.
Central Andes: The Central Andes region of Colombia, including areas such as Risaralda, Caldas, and Quindío, also provides habitat for the Blue-throated Piping-guan, particularly in the montane forests and cloud forests found in these areas.
Eastern Andes and Northern Andes: The Blue-throated Piping-guans are also found in the Eastern Andes and Northern Andes regions of Colombia, where they inhabit the forested areas at different elevations.
Orinoco and Amazon Basins: Parts of the Orinoco and Amazon Basins in Colombia also provide suitable habitat for the species, where they can be found in the tropical rainforests and gallery forests.
Other Forested Regions: Blue-throated Piping-guans may also be present in other forested regions across Colombia, including the Darién Gap, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and various national parks and protected areas throughout the country.
Taxonomy
The Blue-throated Piping-guan (Pipile cumanensis)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Galliformes
- Family: Cracidae
- Genus: Pipile
- Species: Pipile cumanensis
Vocalization
Piping Calls: The Blue-throated Piping-guan gets its name from the clear, melodious piping calls it produces. These calls are often heard echoing through the forest canopy and are typically used to communicate with other members of the group, maintain contact while foraging, and establish territory boundaries.
Loud Vocalizations: Blue-throated Piping-guans are also known to emit loud, far-carrying vocalizations that are used for long-distance communication. These calls can vary in intensity and pitch and are essential for maintaining contact with group members dispersed over a larger area.
Alarm Calls: When threatened or disturbed, Blue-throated Piping-guans can produce sharp and harsh alarm calls. These alarm calls serve to warn other members of the group of potential danger, such as the presence of predators or other threats, and help coordinate defensive responses within the group.
