Bearded Guan
VU

Bearded Guan

Penelope barbata

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearded_guan

Overview

The bearded guan is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows. It is found in Ecuador and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The Bearded Guan faces significant pressure from habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its range in the cloud forests of the Andes. Hunting pressure for subsistence and commercial purposes has further reduced populations, while the species' restricted range and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits humid montane cloud forests and elfin forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes, typically between 1,500-3,000 meters elevation. Prefers dense, moss-covered forests with thick canopy cover and high humidity levels characteristic of cloud forest ecosystems.

Other threatened species in Cracidae

Wattled GuanVU

Wattled Guan

Aburria aburri

Unknown
Black CurassowVU

Black Curassow

Crax alector

Unknown
Yellow-knobbed CurassowEN

Yellow-knobbed Curassow

Crax daubentoni

Unknown
crested guanVU

crested guan

Penelope purpurascens

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bearded Guan classified as Vulnerable?
Bearded Guan is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Bearded Guan faces significant pressure from habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its range in the cloud forests of the Andes. Hunting pressure for subsistence and commercial purposes has further reduced populations, while the species' restricted range and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Where does Bearded Guan live?
Bearded Guan occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bearded Guan?
The main threats to Bearded Guan are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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