Justification This species qualifies as Endangered. It has a very small known range in which severely fragmented habitat patches are declining. Its population is believed to be very small and divided into extremely small subpopulations which are suspected (as a result of ongoing habitat loss and hunting) to be declining.

Family/Sub-family Cracidae

Species name author Bangs, 1911

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 76 cm. Medium-sized, drab cracid with bright red dewlap. Dull brownish-grey, with mainly chestnut rear parts and tail. Heavily whitish-scaled feather edges from head to mantle and breast. Similar spp. Crested Guan P. purpurascens is larger, with conspicuous streaked appearance (not scaled) and olive-brown rear parts. Andean Guan P. montagnii is smaller, with tiny dewlap, and much duller chestnut on lower back and wings. Voice Like other guans, loud, raucous honking, especially vocal during breeding season and when alarmed in groups.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

decreasing

560 km²

Yes

Range & population Penelope perspicax occurs on the west slopes of the West and Central Andes (Risaralda, Quindío, Valle del Cauca and Cauca), Colombia. It was formerly considered mostly an east slope species in the West Andes², but the only records on this slope are apparently from Yotoco Forest Reserve⁶ and Río Lima (both near low passes in Valle del Cauca), the south-east slope of Cerro Munchique, Cauca, and possibly those collected above Patía, Cauca, and at Clementina (an untraced locality). There are recent records from just a few, widely spaced sites, but these are distributed throughout much of its historical range^1,3. The global stronghold is Ucumarí Regional Park, Risaralda³.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: At 1,600-2,150 m, it appears mostly dependent on large, humid, primary forest fragments⁵, but most recent records at 900-1,600 m have been from plantations of exotic broadleaf trees, secondary forest and forest edge⁶. Breeding has been recorded in forest borders, mature secondary forest and in a Pinus plantation, and, in the north of its range, coincides with rainy periods of the year, September-October and February-March⁶.

Threats It has suffered from severe loss of suitable habitat (almost total in the middle Cauca valley) over the period of human colonisation. Many of the localities, at least historical ones, are near the Buenaventura-Buga and Buenaventura-Cali roads, and are thus severely threatened by colonisation and associated deforestation⁴. Munchique National Park is subject to the same threats, as well as dam construction. The species is also hunted for food, even in some protected areas, although apparently not in Ucumarí⁵. If it does occur in the relatively intact forests of the Pacific slope of Valle del Cauca and Cauca, then logging is a key threat⁵.

Conservation measures underway Ucumarí is contiguous with Los Nevados National Park, and it also occurs in the adjacent Otún-Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary³. Yotoco and Bremen (Quindío) Forest Reserves hold small populations³. It has not been found in Munchique area since its detection just outside the national park⁵.

Conservation measures proposed Survey and estimate population sizes, especially in Ucumarí^5,6. Develop and implement an action plan for the species and its habitat^1,5. Provide posters and resources for an educational programme about cracids, particularly aimed at limiting hunting⁵.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. N. Gómez in litt. (1999). 2. Hilty and Brown (1986). 3. Renjifo (1997-1998). 4. Salaman and Stiles (1996). 5. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (1999, 2000). 6. Silva Arias (1996).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Natalia Gomez (CVC Autoridad Regional), Paul G. W. Salaman (Fundación ProAves)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Penelope perspicax. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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