White-crested Guan
Penelope pileata
Large guan. Has a dark brown back contrasting with rich rufous-chestnut underparts and neck. Note the broad white cap. Occurs in dense humid forest, where it mostly forages in trees but may descend to the ground.
Identification
The white-crested guan is a large bird and grows to a length of about 80 centimetres (31 in). It has a long crest of white feathers which gives it its name, bluish cheeks, black upper parts glossed with green, dark reddish-brown underparts and a long black tail. The voice is a raucous cackle, "eh-uh" or "u u u u u".
Taxonomy
Genus: Penelope; Family: Cracidae; Order: Galliformes.
- Scientific name
- Penelope pileata
- Authority
- Wagler, 1830
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Cracidae
- Genus
- Penelope
Range and habitat
The white-crested guan is endemic to Brazil. Its range is limited to the south-central and southeastern parts of the Amazon basin, although it just extends across the Rio Araguaia into the Cerrado ecoregion. Its habitat is tropical forest, mostly dense, solid-ground forest, but it sometimes also occurs in seasonally-flooded areas.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Collared Redstart
Myioborus torquatus
Small, active warbler with diagnostic yellow face, dark collar, and orange crown. Flashes white outer tail feathers while foraging for insects. Found in montane forest and edges, often in pairs. Follows mixed feeding flocks, often moving quickly through the middle levels of the trees. Sexes alike.
Forest Honeyeater
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A rare, medium-sized honeyeater of foothill forest in northern New Guinea. Fairly uniform, brown plumage with a white ear spot and light mottling below. Forages singly for insects and doesn’t really visit flowering trees. The only other similar species with a white ear spot is Scrub honeyeater which is found more in scrub than forest and is green with an orange gape. Call, an upslurred “weep” is diagnostic.
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