Dusky-legged Guan
Penelope obscura
Large guan with a long tail and red throat wattle. Dark brown overall with an olive tinge to the upperparts and warmer brown belly. Unlike most other members of its genus, Dusky-legged has dull grayish legs. Note frosted forehead and variable thin white streaks on the neck and underparts. Found in lowland and foothill forest, including forest edge and scrub. Listen for loud, harsh calls and brays, often given in a series. Occurs from southeastern Brazil to Buenos Aires. Usually in pairs or small groups; often seen feeding at fruiting trees, but can be seen walking on the ground.
Identification
The bird measures an average of 73 centimeters in length and weighs an average of 1.2 kilograms, being very similar in appearance to its smaller relative, the rusty-margined guan (P. supercilliaris).[citation needed]
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Penelope obscura
- Authority
- Temminck, 1815
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Cracidae
- Genus
- Penelope
Range and habitat
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ortolan Bunting
Emberiza hortulana
Fairly small bunting. Males are striking with a green-gray head and yellow mustache, eyering, and throat contrasting with a chestnut belly and intricately marked upperparts. Rump is earth brown and streaked. Females and juveniles are similar but spotted below, head pattern duller, and body less chestnut. Breeds mainly in open and semiopen agricultural areas, slopes, and in mountains with scattered bushes and trees. Non-breeding habitat similar, but includes sparse, highland grasslands and fields. Song is a buzzy “dweedwee-dzeedzeedzzeedzee-dee”, while calls include a mellow, tinkling “deu” and a higher-pitched “deek.”
Plain Mountain Finch
Leucosticte nemoricola
A fittingly-named brown finch of highland mountain passes, meadows, and rural villages. Drab brown overall with some contrasting brown, black, and white streaking on the back. Pale gray-brown head distinguishes it from Black-headed Mountain-Finch. During the nonbreeding months gathers in immense swirling flocks of up to several hundred birds.
Budgerigar
Melopsittacus undulatus
Iconic small green and yellow parrot found extensively across inland Australia. Largely nomadic, according to food and water availability. Usually found in small flocks zipping around overhead, but can congregate in staggering numbers under the right conditions. All native birds in Australia are green and yellow with a beautiful scalloped pattern on the upperparts and fine barring on the head. Small introduced populations and escaped birds scattered across the globe can include various other color forms such as blue and white.
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