Abstract

IANNACONE, José et al. Behavioral diurnal patterns of the Peruvian thick-knee Burhinus superciliaris in modified habitats of the central coast of Peru. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2012, vol.28, n.3, pp.507-524. ISSN 2448-8445.

The aim of this research was to study the behavioral diurnal patterns of the Peruvian Thick-Knee Burhinus superciliaris (Tschudi, 1843) in the wild and to elucidate behavioral patterns for this species. Field efforts were carried out in remaining agricultural lands and modified habitats in an area of 350 m² in central Coastal Pacific Desert of Peru. We conducted focal observations of individuals from May to July of 2006 during a total of 30 h of observation. A total of 32 movements were detected and grouped in nine categories of behaviors. The three main categories of behavior, in decreasing order of percentage in relation to total time of observation, were: maintenance (49.7%), vigilance (28.3%), locomotion (13.5 %) and other categories (8.5%). In relation to total time of observation, the Peruvian Thick-Knee conducted the following main four movements: vigilance (24.8%), walk (10.9%), moving the tail (7.2%), preening of chest feathers (9.0%) and the rest of conducts (48.1%). Characterization of behavior patterns of B. superciliaris may contribute to in situ conservation under the National System of Protected Natural Areas of Peru.

Keywords : Behavior; Burhinus; ethogram; locomotion; maintenance.