Dusky-legged guan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dusky-legged guan |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Penelope
|
| Species: |
obscura
|
| Subspecies | |
|
|
 |
|
The dusky-legged guan (Penelope obscura) is a type of bird that belongs to the family Cracidae. This family includes birds like chachalacas, guans, and curassows. You can find this bird in Uruguay, the northeastern part of Argentina, and the southernmost areas of Paraguay and Brazil.
In early 2021, a bird that used to be considered a subspecies of the dusky-legged guan, called P. o. bridgesi, became its own separate species. This new species is now known as the Yungas guan and lives in southwestern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.
Contents
Where Does the Dusky-legged Guan Live?
The dusky-legged guan naturally lives in habitats that are warm, wet lowland forests.
What Does the Dusky-legged Guan Look Like?
This bird is about 73 centimeters (about 29 inches) long. It weighs around 1.2 kilograms (about 2.6 pounds). It looks very much like its smaller relative, the rusty-margined guan (P. supercilliaris).
What Does the Dusky-legged Guan Eat?
The dusky-legged guan eats fruits, flowers, and buds. It finds these foods on the ground or picks them from tree branches. This bird also helps spread seeds for different types of trees and palms. For example, it helps the endangered palm Euterpe edulis and palms from the genus Syagrus, like the queen palm and licuri.
Interestingly, coffee beans that have been eaten and digested by this bird are sometimes sold for very high prices!
See Also
- In Spanish: Pava de monte para niños
