Wattled Guan

Overview

The wattled guan (Aburria aburri) is a fairly large, shy cracid bird found in South America. It belongs to the family Cracidae and is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, having previously been considered Near Threatened.

Identification

• Size and Plumage: A large bird approximately 75 cm long, weighing between 1,200 and 1,550 grams, with entirely black plumage and a long tail.
• Bill and Legs: Features a blue-based, black-tipped beak and flesh-coloured feet.
• Markings: Distinctively recognisable by an elongated, red-and-yellow fleshy wattle that dangles from the throat.
• Observation: Often heard more often than seen, typically spotted perching on the outer edge of the canopy from a distance.

Habitat

Endemic to the foothills of the Andes in South America, ranging from northwestern Venezuela through Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia to southern Peru. It inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests, wet mountain forests, and secondary forest woodlands between 500 and 2,500 metres in altitude.

Did you know?

Although previously classified as Near Threatened since 2000, the species was re-evaluated in 2023 as Least Concern, likely due to its presence in secondary forest despite ongoing threats from habitat destruction.