Behavioral ethogram and establishment of PAE coding system for three hornbills during the breeding season in Yingjiang, Yunnan

doi:10.17520/biods.2025250

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: To enable objective comparison of hornbill reproductive behaviors and facilitate in-depth research on their ecological evolution, this study was conducted from February to July in 2023 and 2024 in the Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province. Specifically, we aimed to systematically document the behavioral characteristics of three sympatric hornbill species—the oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), the great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), and the wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus)—and to construct an ethogram for each, thereby providing foundational data for subsequent research.

Method: Field observations and video recordings were used to systematically collect data on the behaviors of the three hornbill species. Basic behavioral data were compiled to construct an ethogram for each species. These ethograms were then integrated to establish a posture-act-environment (PAE) coding system, enabling standardized classification and quantitative description of behaviors.

Results: The results showed that the great hornbill and wreathed hornbill both exhibited 7 postures, 34 acts, and 6 environmental variables, whereas the oriental pied hornbill had 6 postures, 29 acts, and 6 environmental variables. The integrated PAE coding system comprised 7 posture categories and 39 distinct behaviors. Among the three species, the wreathed hornbill exhibited the highest total number of behaviors (39), followed by the great hornbill (38), and the oriental pied hornbill (26). Statistical analysis indicated no significant differences in behavioral diversity indices among the three species, nor were there significant differences in any diversity index between sexes within each species.

Conclusion: The ethogram and PAE coding system established in this study provide a detailed behavioral inventory and quantitative description for these three endangered hornbill species, offering essential baseline information for subsequent behavioral ecology research and conservation management.

Key words: Anthracoceros albirostris, Buceros bicornis, Rhyticeros undulatus, ethogram, PAE coding system, behavior diversity

Enmei Yang, Zuwei Yang, Xi Lu, Anru Zuo, Yueti Li, Yubao Duan. Behavioral ethogram and establishment of PAE coding system for three hornbills during the breeding season in Yingjiang, Yunnan[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2026, 34(2): 25250.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025250

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2026/V34/I2/25250

Figures/Tables 5

References 33

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编码 Code	姿势 Posture	描述 Definition	双角犀鸟 Great hornbill	花冠皱盔犀鸟 Wreathed hornbill	冠斑犀鸟 Oriental pied hornbill
P1	站 Standing	双腿或单腿直立以承受身体重量 Stand upright on both legs or one leg to support body weight	√	√	√
P2	蹲 Squatting	双腿弯曲, 略贴于腹部, 背部略低, 身体重心略向后移 Bend both legs, drawing them slightly toward the abdomen, lower the back slightly, and shift the body's center of gravity backward	√	√	√
P3	走 Walking	双脚左右交替移动, 使身体向前或向侧面发生位移 The body moves forward or sideways by alternating steps of the left and right feet	√	√
P4	跳跃 Jumping	双腿蓄力下蹬以使身体腾空 Bend and forcefully extend both legs to propel the body into the air	√	√	√
P5	飞 Flying	双翅扇动或伸直, 在空中运动 Flapping or extending wings to move through the air	√	√	√
P6	悬挂 Hanging	双腿弯曲, 使重心向上抓住巢口, 身体挂在巢口 Bend the legs to shift the center of gravity upward, grip the nest entrance, and suspend the body from the nest edge	√	√	√
P7	踩背 Treading	交配时雄性踩在雌性背上 During copulation, the male mounts the female from behind	√	√	√

编码 Code	姿势 Posture	描述 Definition	双角犀鸟 Great hornbill	花冠皱盔犀鸟 Wreathed hornbill	冠斑犀鸟 Oriental pied hornbill
P1	站 Standing	双腿或单腿直立以承受身体重量 Stand upright on both legs or one leg to support body weight	√	√	√
P2	蹲 Squatting	双腿弯曲, 略贴于腹部, 背部略低, 身体重心略向后移 Bend both legs, drawing them slightly toward the abdomen, lower the back slightly, and shift the body's center of gravity backward	√	√	√
P3	走 Walking	双脚左右交替移动, 使身体向前或向侧面发生位移 The body moves forward or sideways by alternating steps of the left and right feet	√	√
P4	跳跃 Jumping	双腿蓄力下蹬以使身体腾空 Bend and forcefully extend both legs to propel the body into the air	√	√	√
P5	飞 Flying	双翅扇动或伸直, 在空中运动 Flapping or extending wings to move through the air	√	√	√
P6	悬挂 Hanging	双腿弯曲, 使重心向上抓住巢口, 身体挂在巢口 Bend the legs to shift the center of gravity upward, grip the nest entrance, and suspend the body from the nest edge	√	√	√
P7	踩背 Treading	交配时雄性踩在雌性背上 During copulation, the male mounts the female from behind	√	√	√

编码 Code	部位 Part	动作 Act	双角犀鸟 Great hornbill	花冠皱盔犀鸟 Wreathed hornbill	冠斑犀鸟 Oriental pied hornbill
1	头颈部 Head and neck	抬头 Head up	√	√	√
2		低头 Head down	√	√	√
3		后仰 Tilt head backward	√	√	√
4		立颈 Erect neck	√	√	√
5		伸颈 Extend neck	√	√	√
6		缩颈 Retract neck	√	√	√
7		左转 Turn left	√	√	√
8		右转 Turn right	√	√	√
9		后转 Turn backward	√	√	√
10	喙 Beak	张 Open beak	√	√	√
11		合 Close beak	√	√	√
12		鸣 Vocalization	√	√	√
13		啄 Peck	√	√
14		甩 Shake	√	√
15		衔 Hold in beak	√	√	√
16		吞 Swallow	√	√	√
17	眼部 Eyes	睁眼 Open eyes	√	√	√
18		注视 Stare	√	√	√
19		闭眼 Close eyes	√	√
20	躯干 Torso	挺背 Arch back	√	√	√
21		屈背 Hunch back	√	√	√
22		起身 Rise up	√	√	√
23		下蹲 Crouch	√	√	√
24	翅 Wings	展翅 Spread wings	√	√	√
25		抖翅 Shake wings	√	√	√
26		扇翅 Flap wings	√	√	√
27		拢翅 Fold wings	√	√	√
28	腿部 Legs	直立 Stand upright	√	√	√
29		弯曲 Bend legs	√	√	√
30		挠 Scratch	√	√	√
31		抓 Grasp	√	√	√
32	尾部 Tail	上翘 Raise tail	√	√
33		下压 Lower tail	√	√	√
34		排便 Defecate	√	√

编码 Code	部位 Part	动作 Act	双角犀鸟 Great hornbill	花冠皱盔犀鸟 Wreathed hornbill	冠斑犀鸟 Oriental pied hornbill
1	头颈部 Head and neck	抬头 Head up	√	√	√
2		低头 Head down	√	√	√
3		后仰 Tilt head backward	√	√	√
4		立颈 Erect neck	√	√	√
5		伸颈 Extend neck	√	√	√
6		缩颈 Retract neck	√	√	√
7		左转 Turn left	√	√	√
8		右转 Turn right	√	√	√
9		后转 Turn backward	√	√	√
10	喙 Beak	张 Open beak	√	√	√
11		合 Close beak	√	√	√
12		鸣 Vocalization	√	√	√
13		啄 Peck	√	√
14		甩 Shake	√	√
15		衔 Hold in beak	√	√	√
16		吞 Swallow	√	√	√
17	眼部 Eyes	睁眼 Open eyes	√	√	√
18		注视 Stare	√	√	√
19		闭眼 Close eyes	√	√
20	躯干 Torso	挺背 Arch back	√	√	√
21		屈背 Hunch back	√	√	√
22		起身 Rise up	√	√	√
23		下蹲 Crouch	√	√	√
24	翅 Wings	展翅 Spread wings	√	√	√
25		抖翅 Shake wings	√	√	√
26		扇翅 Flap wings	√	√	√
27		拢翅 Fold wings	√	√	√
28	腿部 Legs	直立 Stand upright	√	√	√
29		弯曲 Bend legs	√	√	√
30		挠 Scratch	√	√	√
31		抓 Grasp	√	√	√
32	尾部 Tail	上翘 Raise tail	√	√
33		下压 Lower tail	√	√	√
34		排便 Defecate	√	√

编码 Code	环境 Environment		双角犀鸟 Great hornbill	花冠皱盔犀鸟 Wreathed hornbill	冠斑犀鸟 Oriental pied hornbill
E1	巢树 Nest trees	巢口 Nest entrance	√	√	√
E2	巢树 Nest trees	树枝 Branches	√	√	√
E3	非营巢树 Non-nesting trees	1-25 m	√	√	√
E4		25-50 m	√	√	√
E5		> 50 m	√	√	√
E6	空中 Air	空中 Air	√	√	√