White-crested guan
| White-crested guan | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Cracidae |
| Genus: | Penelope |
| Species: | P. pileata
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| Binomial name | |
| Penelope pileata Wagler,1830
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Thewhite-crested guan(Penelope pileata) is a species ofbirdin the familyCracidae,thechachalacas,guans,andcurassows.It is found only in regions of the easternAmazon basinofBrazil.The species is restricted to the southern riverbank of theAmazon River;also eastwards, the south bank of thePará Riversouth ofMarajó Islandat the Amazon River's outlet. Its naturalhabitatissubtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.It is threatened byhabitat destructionand in 2012, the species was recategorised by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature,its conservation status being raised tovulnerable.[2]
Description
[edit]The white-crested guan is a large bird and grows to a length of about 80 centimetres (31 in). It has a long crest of white feathers which gives it its name, bluish cheeks, black upper parts glossed with green, dark reddish-brown underparts and a long black tail. The voice is a raucous cackle, "eh-uh" or "u u u u u".[3][4]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]The white-crested guan isendemicto Brazil. Its range is limited to the south-central and southeastern parts of the Amazon basin, although it just extends across theRio Araguaiainto theCerradoecoregion. Its habitat is tropical forest, mostly dense, solid-ground forest, but it sometimes also occurs in seasonally-flooded areas.[4]
Status
[edit]The greatest threat faced by the white-crested guan is destruction of its rainforest habitat. As increasing amounts of forest are cleared and converted into agricultural land and cattle ranches, suitable habitat is reduced. The bird is intolerant of this and populations are fragmenting and declining. It is also hunted for food and captured for the aviary trade, so theInternational Union for Conservation of Naturehas raised its conservation status tovulnerable.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abBirdLife International (2016)."Penelope pileata".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T22678392A92771975.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678392A92771975.en.Retrieved12 November2021.
- ^"Recently recategorised species".Birdlife International (2012).Retrieved9 June2012.
- ^Ber van Perlo (2 September 2009).A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil.Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 99–.ISBN978-0-19-974565-4.
- ^abKirwan, Guy M. (2010)."Penelope pileata".Neotropical Birds.Cornell Lab of Ornithology.Retrieved2015-08-07.
External links
[edit]- White-crested Guan videoson the Internet Bird Collection
- White-crested Guan photo galleryVIREOPhoto-High Res
- Photo-High Res
- 1850s illustration by A. Prévost
