White-winged Guan
Penelope albipennis
Large, turkey-like bird restricted to dry forests of northwestern Peru. Dark brown overall, with a red wattle, a pink face patch, and white scaling on the breast. Its white wing patches are often hidden when the bird is perched, but flash conspicuously when it takes flight. Mostly arboreal, though occasionally drops to the ground to feed. Sometimes flutters its wings as it flies from tree to tree, making a loud rattling sound. While previously brought to the brink of extinction from hunting and habitat loss, this impressive bird has made a comeback thanks to the establishment of new protected areas and a successful reintroduction project.
Identification
The white-winged guan has an average length of 85.2 cm (2.8 ft) and average weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb). It has blackish brown plumage overlain by a green gloss. Much of its forepart has short whitish or pale gray streaks. Its white primaries show as a slash on the folded wing. Its reddish eye is surrounded by bare purple skin, its bill is dark gray with a black tip, and it has an orange dewlap.
Taxonomy
At various times the white-winged guan has been considered closely related to the crested guan (Penelope purpurascens), Cauca guan (P. perspicax), Spix's guan (P. jacquacu), and dusky-legged guan (P. obscura). It was also treated as a color morph of Baudo guan (P. ortoni). More recent evidence confirms that it is a species in its own right and most closely related to either or both of crested guan and band-tailed guan (P. argyrotis).<p>The white-winged guan is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Penelope albipennis
- Authority
- Taczanowski, 1878
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Cracidae
- Genus
- Penelope
Range and habitat
The white-winged guan is now found only in the departments of Lambayeque, Cajamarca, and Piura in northwestern Peru. It is confined to an area that is at most 190 km (120 mi) long and 40 km (25 mi) wide and is divided by a major road and its accompanying human settlement. The 1876 specimen had been collected much further north than the current known area.<p>The white-winged guan inhabits a very specialized landscape, small, forested ravines and nearby slopes on the west side of the Andes. In elevation it generally ranges between 500 and 1,100 m (1,600 and 3,600 ft) but has been reported as low as 300 m (980 ft) and as high as 1,385 m (4,540 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The white-winged guan typically begins calling before dawn and at first light moves from overnight roosts to feed until about 9:00. They are then mostly sedentary until late afternoon, when they typically feed again before roosting for the night.<p>The white-winged guan is usually found in pairs or family groups, though several groups commonly will feed in one fruiting tree. It eats fruits, flowers, leaves, and seeds. Fruits of Ficus figs and Cordia lutea are the most important part of the diet because they are available during most of the year.<p>The white-winged guan is territorial and mated pairs stay together over successive years. Their breeding season spans from November to May, a period which overlaps the resource-abundant rainy season. They construct a nest of twigs and leaves in vine-covered trees, typically about 2.5 m (8 ft) above the ground. The clutch size can be one to three eggs but two is the usual number.<p>The white-winged guan has three categories of vocalization, which are sometimes mixed or merged. They are most vocal at dawn and dusk during the breeding season. The territorial call "sounds like 'jar-jar-jar' ending with a quick 'ha-ha-ha-ha'" and is usually given by the male. The alarm call "'piu-piu-piu' or 'cau-cau-cau'" can be given in duets. The threat call is given as a direct challenge to a conspecific intruder and "sounds like 'arrr, arrr, arrr'." The guan's non-vocal wing-drumming display is given at dawn and can be heard at great distances.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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