Yungas Guan
Penelope bridgesi
Large guan with a long tail and red throat wattle. Dark brown overall with extensive white markings on wings. Unlike most other members of its genus, Yungas has dull grayish legs. Found in montane forests and edges. Listen for loud, harsh calls often given in a series. Restricted range in northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia. Usually in pairs or small groups; often seen feeding at fruiting trees, but can be seen walking on the ground.
Identification
Male and female Yungas guans are alike. They are chestnut above and dull reddish brown below. The belly has brown to orange horizontal markings and the tail is dark brown. The head and back of the neck are black. Feathers of the neck, back, and chest have white edges that are significantly larger than those of P. obscura. The bare skin of the face is slate gray and the wattle is red. <p>The Yungas guan is larger than P. obscura; the lengths of nine specimens were between 77.0 cm (30.3 in) and 89.0 cm (35.0 in) compared to 48.0 cm (18.9 in) and 66.0 cm (26.0 in) for two specimens of P. obscura.
Taxonomy
Prior to late 2020, the Yungas guan was considered a subspecies of dusky-legged guan (Penelope obscura). A 2018 publication detailed many morphological differences between them. An earlier publication had highlighted their very different vocalizations. Based on that evidence and the members' personal knowledge, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society elevated it to species rank in December 2020, and the International Ornithological Congress followed suit in January 2021.
- Scientific name
- Penelope bridgesi
- Authority
- Gray, GR, 1860
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Cracidae
- Genus
- Penelope
Range and habitat
The Yungas guan is found on the east side of the Andes in the Southern Andean Yungas of southwestern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. It inhabits subtropical evergreen forest from below 1,000 m (3,300 ft) up to approximately 1,900 m (6,200 ft).
Behavior
The Yungas guan eats fruit and leaves with the proportions and species of each varying throughout its range. Though the bird is generally sedentary, it is thought to change its elevation in different seasons. The species' breeding season is mainly between October and December.
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Olive-bellied Sunbird
Cinnyris chloropygius
Small sunbird in which males are colorful, green and red, and females drab brownish. Males have yellow shoulder tufts that are usually hidden. Found in forest clearings, along forest edge, and in woodland, moist savanna, gardens, and brush. Often feeds on low flowers. The song is a quick, high-pitched jumble. Similar to Tiny Sunbird, but larger, with a shorter and more curved bill, and males are less bluish above. Male very similar to male double-collared sunbirds, but lacks blue or purple band above the red on the breast.
Gray Apalis
Apalis cinerea
Plain apalis with gray upperparts and pale underparts. The color of the underparts varies geographically, from white to more dingy gray or buff. Found in middle and high-elevation forest, most often in the canopy. Usually in pairs or small groups which will join mixed-species flocks. The main vocalization is a rough, repeated “chree,” which can be accompanied by a rattling call. Very similar to Kungwe Apalis, but separated by the darker head which shows brown tones. Also similar to male Buff-throated Apalis, but has paler upperparts.
Principe Seedeater
Crithagra rufobrunnea
An incredibly dowdy small seedeater with a pink-horn bill and a pale throat. On São Tomé its color is gray-brown and on Príncipe more buffy-cinnamon. On São Tomé it is a common resident in most habitats from primary forest to suburban gardens up to 1500 meters of elevation; on Príncipe it is uncommon and more restricted to forest. Song is variable, but mostly a strident, rapidly delivered series of high-pitched notes “tseet-teet-teet-teet-tseeu-tseeu-tseeu” or similar; call is a slurred “tshweet.” The much larger Sao Tome Grosbeak is chestnut in color and rare in remote forest on São Tomé; Yellow-fronted Canary is much brighter.
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