Dusky-legged Guan

Overview

The dusky-legged guan (Penelope obscura) is a bird in the family Cracidae. It is found in Uruguay, northeastern Argentina, and the southernmost areas of Paraguay and Brazil, while a former subspecies was elevated to species rank as the Yungas guan.

Identification

• Measures an average of 73 centimeters in length and weighs an average of 1.2 kilograms.
• Very similar in appearance to its smaller relative, the rusty-margined guan (Penelope supercilliaris).
• No information provided on plumage, bill, legs, markings, or song.

Habitat

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is found in Uruguay, northeastern Argentina, and southernmost areas of Paraguay and Brazil.

Diet

It eats fruit, flowers, and buds taken from the ground or plucked from tree branches. It acts as a seed disperser for various species of trees and palms, such as the endangered palm Euterpe edulis and palms of the genus Syagrus (e.g. queen palm and licuri).

Did you know?

Coffee beans digested by the bird are sold for high prices.