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The Trinidad piping guan locally known as the pawi, is a bird in the chachalaca, guan and curassow family Cracidae, endemic to the island of Trinidad. It is a large bird, somewhat resembling a turkey in appearance, and research has shown that its nearest living relative is the blue-throated piping guan from South America. It is a mainly arboreal species feeding mostly on fruit, but also on flowers and leaves. At one time abundant, it has declined in numbers and been extirpated from much of its natural range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the bird as "critically endangered".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
This is a medium-sized cracid, 60 cm in length, and similar in general appearance to a turkey, with a thin neck and small head. It is mainly black with a purple gloss. The large crest is blackish, edged with white, and there are large white wing patches. The bare face and wattle are blue, and the legs are red. The Trinidad piping guan's call is a thin piping. The wings whirr in flight.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Trinidad Piping Guan lives
When to see the Trinidad Piping Guan
Peak activity in December · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Black-fronted Piping GuanPipile jacutingaThe black-fronted piping guan is 63.5 to 74 cm (2.08 to 2.43 ft) long and weighs 1,100 to 1,400 g (2.4 to 3.1 lb).
Red-throated Piping GuanPipile cujubiThe red-throated piping guan is 69 to 76 cm (2.26 to 2.49 ft) long; P. c. nattereri weighs 1,100 to 1,300 g (2.4 to 2.9 lb).
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