White-crested guan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-crested guan |
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| Conservation status | |
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Penelope
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| Species: |
pileata
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The white-crested guan (Penelope pileata) is a type of bird. It belongs to a family called Cracidae. This family includes chachalacas, guans, and curassows. You can only find this bird in the eastern Amazon basin of Brazil. It lives south of the Amazon River. It also lives eastwards, south of the Pará River. This is near Marajó Island, where the Amazon River meets the sea. Its natural home is a moist lowland forest. Sadly, its home is being destroyed. Because of this, the bird is now considered a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of disappearing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature changed its status in 2012.
About the White-crested Guan
The white-crested guan is a large bird. It can grow to be about 80 centimeters (31 inches) long. It has a long crest of white feathers on its head. This is how it got its name! It also has bluish cheeks. Its upper body is black with a green shine. Its belly and chest are dark reddish-brown. It has a long black tail. When it makes a sound, it's a loud cackle. It sounds like "eh-uh" or "u u u u u".
Where White-crested Guans Live
The white-crested guan lives only in Brazil. This means it is endemic to Brazil. You can find it in the south-central and southeastern parts of the Amazon basin. It also goes a little bit into the Cerrado area. This is across the Rio Araguaia river. Its home is usually a tropical forest. It prefers thick forests on solid ground. But sometimes, it can also be found in areas that flood during certain seasons.
Why White-crested Guans Need Help
The biggest danger to the white-crested guan is the loss of its rainforest home. More and more forests are being cut down. They are cleared to make space for farms and cattle ranches. This means there is less and less suitable forest for the birds. The white-crested guan does not do well when its home is disturbed. Because of this, groups of these birds are becoming separated. Their numbers are also going down. People also hunt these birds for food. Some are even caught to be sold as pets. Because of these threats, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the white-crested guan as vulnerable. This means it needs our help to survive.
