Photo: BluesyPete / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-winged Guan
Penelope albipennis
White-winged Guan (Penelope albipennis) — Gamebirds of South America.
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The White-winged Guan (Penelope albipennis) is a member of the Cracidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Cracidae Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans
- Genus Penelope
- Species albipennis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.8 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-winged Guan is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-winged Guan is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-winged Guan (Penelope albipennis) is a species of bird in the Cracidae family, part of the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA nw Peru.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.8 kg, with a wing length of about 31.8 cm and a tail of around 31.4 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3,109 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-winged Guan?
The White-winged Guan is a very large bird that weighs around 1.8 kg.
Where does the White-winged Guan live?
The White-winged Guan is found across South America with a range covering SA nw Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-winged Guan belong to?
The White-winged Guan (Penelope albipennis) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the White-winged Guan eat?
The White-winged Guan is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the White-winged Guan migrate?
The White-winged Guan is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-winged Guan endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the White-winged Guan make?
1 real field recording of the White-winged Guan — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-winged Guan's range?
The White-winged Guan has a mapped global range of about 3,109 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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