Justification This species has a small and severely fragmented range, which is continuing to decline as a result of habitat loss and hunting. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Cracidae

Species name author Chapman, 1921

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

Identification 55 cm. Small, mostly brown cracid. Dark greyish-brown upperparts and rear underparts, except silvered crown and neck feathers. Duller wings. Ill-defined rufous terminal band to tail. Lower neck and breast extensively edged whitish. Red legs and dewlap. Similar spp. Most closely resembles Band-tailed Guan P. argyrotis, from which it differs in lacking conspicuous white upperwing-covert markings, its fully feathered chin and upper throat and partially feathered tarsus. Andean Guan P. montagnii is also similar but lacks a terminal band on the tail.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

decreasing

16,500 km²

No

Range & population Penelope barbata has a relatively restricted range in south Ecuador (Azuay, El Oro, Loja) and northwest Peru in Piura (Huancabamba, Ayabaca, including Aypate, El Toldo, Bosque de Cuyas and Cerro Huamingas, Maray¹⁴ and Cerro Chinguela¹³), Lambayeque (Laquipampa Wildlife refuge^8,10) and Cajamarca (Saña valley, Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary¹²) departments. (Piura, Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Ayabaca, Huancabamba and Ferrenafe). Suitable habitat within its range is estimated at 2,637 km² in Ecuador⁴, and probably a larger area in Peru. In 1989, the population in Ecuador was estimated at c.3,000 individuals (1,000-6,000) occurring at c.2-4 birds/km², although surveys have produced much higher density estimates in the Cordillera de Chilla³, and recently at two sites in Loja province where 33 birds/km² were recorded at Cajanuma (a relatively well-protected area) and 17 birds/km² were estimated at Curishiro (a mining area)¹⁵. Montane forest in Podocarpus National Park possibly holds up to 1,000 pairs². Since 1989, other populations have been found in Ecuador, notably on Lomo Angashcola, Loma del Oro, Mamanunga and Santiago; Loja^1,6,14 In Peru the species it is relatively common in the upper Saña valley, Cajamarca², and has recently been discovered at several sites in Ayabaca and Cajamarca⁵.

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

Ecology: This large frugivore inhabits humid montane forest and cloud-forest at 1,500-3,000 m, and regularly to 1,200 m in Lambayeque. It is usually seen in pairs, or small groups of up to six. Its breeding ecology is poorly known, but adults with chicks have been recorded in February¹⁰-July, and juveniles have been observed on May, June and August in Bosque de Cuyas, Ayabaca¹⁷. A nest found in Laquipampa was situated in gallery forest in a tree c3 m above ground¹¹. It feeds on many plant species, especially Ficus spp. on Laquipampa¹¹ and a recent study found that its diet consists largely of fruits from the families Lauraceae (39%), Myrtaceae (20.3%) and Meliaceae (14%)¹⁶.

Threats The main threat to the species is ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation due to clearance for pasture, agriculture and increased mining activity, both legal and illegal. Legal mining is particularly a threat in Peru, with many concessions having been granted throughout the species range. Several of these legal concessions will impact protected areas including Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary. Within Podocarpus National Park illegal gold mining and forest clearance by colonists take place within the park boundary, although large areas of undisturbed forest remain⁶. Hunting may be a threat in key areas such as Loma Angashcola and Podocarpus National Park⁶, and in Peru (feathers of two hunted birds were found at Salas in 2004¹¹) . The expansion of mining in the region and the creation of new roads improve access and may locally increase hunting⁹. Habitat destruction is also fragmenting the species range and promoting long-term isolation of small, non-viable populations.

Conservation measures underway It is protected by law in Peru and Ecuador. It is protected within Podocarpus National Park, Tapichalaca Reserve, Huashapamba Forest Reserve, Bosque Protector Colambo-Yacuri¹⁸ and Angashcola Community Reserve in Ecuador⁹; and Laquipampa Wildlife refuge (ex-Zona Reservada)⁷, Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary, Piura/Cajamarca⁵ and Bosque de Protección Pagaibamba¹¹ in Peru.

Conservation measures proposed Encourage the protection of more forested areas in the Andes of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Support the establishment of private reserves like Tapichalaca. Ensure adequate protection of Podocarpus National Park and increase capacity and infrastructure for park staff. Support the reserves of Angashcola and Huashapamba (Ecuador), expand protected habitat network in montane areas of Lambayeque, Piura and Cajamarca, including the "Cerro Chinguela" area. Implement proposals that help support communities to establish private reserves, such as the reserve at "Bosque de Cuyas". Ayabaca and increase capacity and infrastructure for Park Staff at Laquipampa (Peru) ⁹. Conduct educational campaigns highlighting the importance of the species for montane forests and produce a participative conservation strategy for the species, search for further sites where the species can be found and estimate its density⁹.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Best et al. (1996). 2. I. Franke per J. Fjeldså in litt. (1999). 3. Jacobs and Walker (1999). 4. Krabbe et al. (1998). 5. J. P. O'Neill in litt. (1999). 6. Wege and Long (1995). 7. J. Flanagan in litt. (2001). 10. Andulo and Aleman (2006). 11. F. Angulo in litt. (2007). 12. Amanzo et al. (2003). 13. Begazo and Valqui (2000). 14. Flanagan et al. (2000). 15. Medina et al. (1994). 16. Gomez (2006). 17. N. Krabbe in litt. (2007).

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), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Fernando Angulo Pratolongo (Asociacion Cracidae Peru), Jon Fjeldså (University of Copenhagen), Niels Krabbe (Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen), John O'Neill

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Penelope barbata. 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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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