Photo: Félix Uribe from Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cauca Guan
Penelope perspicax
Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax) — Gamebirds of South America.
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The Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax) is a member of the Cracidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Cracidae Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans
- Genus Penelope
- Species perspicax
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cauca Guan is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Cauca Guan is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax) is a species of bird in the Cracidae family, part of the order Galliformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA w Colombia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 32.5 cm and a tail of around 33.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 108 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cauca Guan?
The Cauca Guan is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Cauca Guan live?
The Cauca Guan is found across South America with a range covering SA w Colombia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Cauca Guan belong to?
The Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Cauca Guan eat?
The Cauca Guan is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Cauca Guan migrate?
The Cauca Guan is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Cauca Guan endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Cauca Guan make?
1 real field recording of the Cauca Guan can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Cauca Guan's range?
The Cauca Guan has a mapped global range of about 108 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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