White-winged guan

White-winged guan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Cracidae
Genus: Penelope
Species: P. albipennis
Binomial name
Penelope albipennis
Taczanowski, 1878

The white-winged guan (Penelope albipennis) is a bird in the chachalaca, guan and curassow family Cracidae.

This species survives in Lambayeque, Cajamarca and Piura, north-west Peru. This is a medium-sized cracid, 70 cm in length, and similar in general appearance to turkeys, with thin necks and small heads.

Description

This bird has dark brown plumage with white primaries. It has pale flecking on the neck, upper breast and wing-coverts. It has an extensive, bare red throat and double-lobed dewlap, a blue bill with black tip, and purple facial skin around eye. Its voice is a very deep, hoarse och..och...och, especially during breeding season.

This bird is critically endangered due to a severe loss of suitable habitat, and is also hunted for food. The current population estimated to be approximately 350 individuals. The Laquipampa Reserved Zone and the Asociación Crax 2000 was created specifically to protect this species. The largest population is now found in the Chaparri Private Conservation Area in Lambayeque where it has been successfully reintroduced and now thrives under community protection. Crax 2000 is also doing incredible work to further repopulate this species in Olmos, Lambayeque.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2013). "Penelope albipennis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.

External links


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