Birds of Colombia

○   ←   GALLIFORMES: Cracidae (Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans)   →
Genus: Penelope (6 species, 16 worldwide)

Genus Penelope, Guans, are gamebirds in the Cracidae family are are larger than Chachalacas (in the range of 60 to 75 cm.). Guans are usually solitary or seen in family groups, unlike Chachalacas that form larger groups. And like most fowl consume both fruit and insects.


Band-tailed Guan
Band-tailed Guan (Penelope argyrotis)
Venezuela   		   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Spix's Guan
Spix's Guan (Penelope jacquacu jacquacu)
  		   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Andean Guan
Andean Guan (Penelope montagnii montagnii)
ACAIME Reserve, Salento, Colombia
  Note red eye and compact shape. A medium sized guan. 		   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A less {rufous} idividual.

Baudo Guan
Baudo Guan (Penelope ortoni) Endangered
Los Cedros Reserve, Ecuador   		   
Photograph by Evan Barrientos Photography   © All Rights Reserved.
A small guan named after the Baudo mountain range along the Colombian Pacific coast. Note blue featherless face, and dark chest with white streaking.

Cauca Guan
Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax) Vulnerable ENDEMIC
Otún Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia   		   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Cauca Guan
Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax) Vulnerable ENDEMIC
Otún Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
  A large guan. 		   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.
A large guan similar to Crested Guan, but back and tail more rufous. Found only in the remaining forest fragments in the Cauca valley, such as Otun Quimbaya. Note large dewlap.

Crested Guan
Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens) Near Threatened
Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
  A very large guan. 		   
Photograph by George Scott Photography   © All Rights Reserved.


© Tom Friedel - All Rights Reserved, except for images and data otherwise noted.       Colombia       Panama       Ecuador       Costa Rica       Mexico
Experimental sites:       Peru       Venezuela       The World       Brazil       Bolivia
Really Experimental sites:       Guyana       Cuba