Spix’s Guan (Penelope jacquacu)

Identification & Behavior: ~65 cm (25.5 in). The Spix’s Guan is all brown with pale specks on the neck, upper back, and breast. They have grayish bare skin around the eyes and face. Sexes are similar and have a bright red throat and dewlap. The Spix’s Guan is distinguished from the structurally similar Speckled Chachalaca by much larger size and larger and more conspicuous red dewlap. The Spix’s Guan favors mature interior forest while the Speckled Chachalaca is confined to forest edges and second growth. Also, see Crested Guan and White-winged Guan.

Status: The Spix’s Guan can be fairly common in lowland Amazonia, but has been recorded at elevations of up to 1700 m along the foothill of the Andes. This large Guan can be fairly common, but it has been extirpated in the forest surrounding human settlements due to subsistence hunting pressure by humans.

Name in Spanish: Pava de Spix o Pucacunga.

Sub-species: Spix’s Guan (Penelope jacquacu jacquacu) Spix, 1825.

Meaning of Name: Penelope: L. Pene=quasi or similar to, and lothos=crest. jaquacu: Tupi (Native Brasilian) jacu= native name for this bird, and guaçu= large.

See more of the Family Cracidae