Penelope ochrogaster
The Chestnut-bellied Guan (Penelope ochrogaster) is a striking medium-sized cracid, measuring 70-75 cm (28-30 in) in length and weighing approximately 1.1-1.3 kg. Its overall plumage is a deep olive-brown to blackish, often appearing scaled on the mantle and chest due to pale feather edgings, but its most distinctive feature is the rich rufous-chestnut lower breast, belly, and undertail coverts. A prominent blue facial skin patch and a bright red, pendulous dewlap below the chin further enhan...
Primarily inhabiting gallery forests, semi-deciduous, and humid forests, the Chestnut-bellied Guan is typically found in lowland areas, generally below 600 meters elevation, within the Cerrado and Pantanal biomes of Brazil.
This species is primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of wild fruits and berries, complemented by flowers, leaves, seeds, and occasionally small invertebrates gleaned from the foliage.
The Chestnut-bellied Guan is a diurnal and predominantly arboreal species, often observed foraging quietly in the canopy at dawn and dusk, where it plucks fruits and leaves. They typically live in small, cohesive family groups or pairs, rarely forming large flocks, and maintain established territ...
The Chestnut-bellied Guan is endemic to Brazil, with its distribution centered within the country's central and southeastern regions. Its primary range includes the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo. This non-migratory species is largely restricted to t...
Near Threatened
- Known for its distinctive "honk-HONK-honk-honk" vocalizations, often heard echoing through the forest at dawn and dusk. - Despite its name, it's not a true 'gamebird' in the same way as pheasants, but rather a member of the Cracid family, which includes guans, curassows, and chachalacas. - The ...