Penelope superciliaris
The Rusty-margined Guan (Penelope superciliaris) is a striking, medium-sized cracid native to South America, known for its cryptic coloration and arboreal lifestyle. Measuring 60-75 cm (24-30 inches) in length and weighing around 900-1100 grams (2-2.4 lbs), this elegant bird sports overall dark brown plumage, often appearing blackish, with distinctive white streaking across the neck and upper breast. Its most notable field marks include rusty-reddish margins on its wing coverts, which give th...
Primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, dry deciduous forests, and gallery forests, often favoring areas near water sources, up to elevations of about 1200 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of fruits (especially figs and palms), seeds, flowers, and leaves, supplemented occasionally with insects.
Primarily arboreal and diurnal, Rusty-margined Guans spend most of their time in the canopy, though they will descend to the ground to forage, drink, or dust-bathe. They typically move in small family groups or pairs, rarely forming larger flocks, and are generally shy and secretive, often freezi...
The Rusty-margined Guan is endemic to South America, with a broad distribution across eastern and central Brazil, eastern Bolivia, eastern Paraguay, and extreme northeastern Argentina. Its range extends from the Atlantic Forest biome in southeastern Brazil, westward into the Chaco and Pantanal re...
Least Concern
- The Rusty-margined Guan's scientific name 'Penelope superciliaris' refers to its genus (Penelope, meaning 'duck' or 'weaver' in Greek, possibly alluding to its shy nature) and 'superciliaris' for the white 'eyebrow' seen in some individuals. - Despite their robust size, these guans are surprisi...