Baudo guan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baudó guan |
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Penelope
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ortoni
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The Baudó guan (scientific name: Penelope ortoni) is a special type of bird. It belongs to the Cracidae family, which includes guans, curassows, and chachalacas. This bird lives only in the wet forests of western Colombia and north-western Ecuador. You can find it in the lower parts of the Andean mountains.
Sadly, the Baudó guan is in danger. It is very sensitive to hunting and when its home, the forest, is destroyed. Many parts of its main living area, like the Chocó region, have already disappeared. Because of this, groups like BirdLife International and IUCN say it is an endangered species. This means it needs our help to survive.
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Where the Baudó Guan Lives
The Baudó guan lives in Colombia and Ecuador. It prefers the lower slopes and base of the western Andes mountains. We don't have recent confirmed sightings of this bird south of Pichincha in Ecuador. This suggests its living range has become much smaller. Also, the number of Baudó guans has likely dropped a lot recently.
In 2002, experts thought there were about 2,500 to 7,500 adult Baudó guans in one area of Ecuador. Later studies between 1997 and 2006 estimated the total world population to be between 7,000 and 21,000 adult birds.
What the Baudó Guan Looks Like
The Baudó guan looks like a typical guan bird. It stands about 65 centimeters (about 25 inches) tall. Its body is mostly dark brown. On its chest and neck, you can see small, regular white patches. The brown color around its neck and head is a bit darker and grayish. This makes the white patches stand out more.
Its head is plain, which helps tell it apart from other guans in South America. Other guans in the same group often have light markings on their heads. Both its legs and the skin flap under its chin (called a dewlap) are red. The dewlap is brighter and easier to see than its legs.
Baudó Guan Sounds
Baudó guans make calls around sunrise. They have a deep, guttural sound that travels far, like a "waou." When people get close, the birds warn each other with soft, long, rising whistles. They also have an alarm call, "konh-konh-konh-konh," repeated several times. This alarm call is not heard very often. Other Penelope species of guans also use this same alarm call.
What the Baudó Guan Eats
The Baudó guan looks for food in the upper parts of humid forests. It usually searches for fruits in small groups.
How the Baudó Guan is Classified
The Baudó guan has several close relatives. These include the Band-tailed Guan (Penelope argyrotis), Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax), Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura), White-crested Guan (Penelope pileata), and the White-browed Guan (Penelope jacucaca). All these birds also live in South America, from Colombia to Brazil.
This bird was once thought to be a type of Andean Guan. However, scientists found that their populations overlapped in western Colombia and southwest Ecuador. There was no sign of them mixing. So, now the Baudó guan is considered its own distinct species. The scientific name of the bird honors an American naturalist named James Orton.
Protecting the Baudó Guan
In Ecuador, the Baudó guan is protected by law. Many areas where this bird lives are not well-known. So, a main goal for protecting them is to start programs that watch their populations. It's also important to survey their habitats. This helps scientists find areas that are not currently protected. It might also help expand protected areas in places like Nariño and Esmeraldas.
Images for kids
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A Baudó Guan in its natural habitat.
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Map showing the distribution of the Baudó Guan.
