White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca Scientific name definitions

The White-browed Guan is endemic to the Caatinga biome of northeast Brazil, where it ranges from Ceará south locally as far as northeast Minas Gerais. The species is found in a variety of forest types from dry caatinga to coastal restinga, and from sea level to approximately 1000 m. It usually prefers taller vegetation. Within the species’ range, there is no other similar-sized blackish-brown guan, with its most striking feature being the white supercilium. Its ecology is poorly known and little has been published. However, the White-browed Guan is typically encountered in pairs or small groups of up to six birds, which are usually rather shy, presumably due to prevailing hunting pressure (the species’ range encompasses one of the poorest regions of Brazil). As a result of this and a perceived rapid population decline brought about through habitat loss, the White-browed Guan is presently classified as Vulnerable.

65–70 cm. Conspicuous white supercilium  with a narrow black line below, separating it from bare skin on sides of face. Sexes may differ in colour of irides, being more reddish in males and brown in females. White streaks on upperwing elongated and prominent  , more so than in <em>P. obscura bronzina</em> , from which present species also differs by having more contrasting supercilium and pale legs. Juvenile similar, but has foreneck yellowish (without characteristic red dewlap), yellowish orbital skin around eye and whitish stripes on wings, breast and flanks less pronounced (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ).

Interior of NE Brazil from S Maranhão E across Piauí, Ceará, Paraíba and Pernambuco, S to Alagoas, Bahia and NE Minas Gerais.

Inhabits dry areas of stunted semi-deciduous forest , angical (open woodland largely comprising Anadenanthera macrocarpa, Fabaceae) and taller caatinga, usually no lower than 3–4 m high (3 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ), but also occasionally in campo rupestre (4 Vasconcelos, M. F., L. Nunes Souza, C. Duca, J. F. Pacheco, R. Parrini, G. A. Sepa, C. Albano, C. R. Meirelles Abreu, S. Sampaio dos Santos, and F. Pedro da Fonseca Neto (2012). The avifauna of Brejinho das Ametistas, Bahia, Brazil: birds in a caatinga-cerrado transitional zone, with comments on taxonomy and biogeography. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 20(3):246–267. Close ). Persists in selectively logged and otherwise degraded areas, including those close to dwellings, but seems to be especially numerous close to temporary rivers (3 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ). In lowlands below 1000 m (3 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ).

No information available, but presumably sedentary, performing only short-range movements in response to availability of food and water (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ).

No detailed information available on diet, but apparently visits Ziziphus joazeiro (Rhamnaceae) trees to feed (5 Olmos, F. (1993). Birds of Serra da Capivara National Park in the “caatinga” of north-eastern Brazil. Bird Conservation International 3(1):21–36. Close ) and seeds of Copaifera langsdorfii and Eugenia cearensis recorded in species’ faeces in same region (6 Olmos, F., and C. Albano (2012). As aves da região do Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara (Piauí, Brasil). Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 20(3):173–187. Close ). Regularly forages on ground , presumably taking a range of fallen fruits, seeds and small quantities of insects (3 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ), and in one area birds have been persuaded to visit a feeding area with coarse-ground corn (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ). Visits water to drink (3 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ), especially during dry season#R  and particularly during years with unusually low rainfall (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ). Recorded in groups of up to seven individuals (5 Olmos, F. (1993). Birds of Serra da Capivara National Park in the “caatinga” of north-eastern Brazil. Bird Conservation International 3(1):21–36. Close , 7 Mazar Barnett, J., C. L. Gomes da Silva, H. F. Pereira de Araujo, A. L. Roos, C. G. Machado, A. M. K. Uejima, and L. N. Naka (2014). The avifauna of Curaçá (Bahia): the last stronghold of Spix’s Macaw. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 22(2):121–137. Close ) (presumably family parties), but at the feeding area just mentioned up to 38 birds have observed simultaneously (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ).

Poorly described in literature until recently, but apparently largely typical of genus. Wing-whirring display witnessed in wet season (5 Olmos, F. (1993). Birds of Serra da Capivara National Park in the “caatinga” of north-eastern Brazil. Bird Conservation International 3(1):21–36. Close ) (from mid Jan), described as similar to that of P. purpurascens (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ). Gives various honking but few raucous or grating calls  , e.g. when drinking, forming a babble of noise when several birds present, e.g. “ga-ga” and “ga-o” calls, and series of “ga-ga-ga-...” or “ga-o-o-o-...”, but also whistles, and, typically, one or more particularly loud “sh-sh-..-ga-ga-..” calls, some of which sounds are audible over several hundred metres (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ).

Very few data available. Season unstated (though see Voice), but lays 2–3 white eggs, mean size 68 mm × 50 mm, mass 92 g, in a nest of sticks and lined with dry leaves, in trees or palms (Cyagrus coronta) (8 Lima, P.C., Grantsau, R., Rocha Lima, R.C.F., Lima Neto, T.N.C. and Souza Silva, L.E. (2010). Ninhos de espécies ameaçadas, endêmicas e outras de comportamento reprodutivo pouco conhecido, na pátria da arara-azul-de-lear (Anodorhynchus leari) (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), destacando-se novos dados sobre o comportamento reprodutivo do besourinho-de-cauda-larga (Phaethornis gounellei) (Apodiformes: Trochilidae) a descrição do ninho da choca-do-nordeste (Sakesphorus cristatus) (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) e do jacucaca (Penelope jacucaca) (Galliformes: Cracidae). Atualidades Orn.. 153: 69–161. Close ). Juveniles (probably < 2 months old) observed in mid Aug (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ). No further information

VULNERABLE. Formerly considered Near Threatened. Total population estimated at fewer than 10,000 individuals. Occurs in three subpopulations: NE of R São Francisco, S of R São Franciso, and coastal Alagoas, Pernambuco and adjacent Paraíba, but perhaps virtually extirpated in latter (3 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ), although there is one recent record from the littoral (9 Silva, M., B. R. Albuquerque França, J. B. Irusta, G. H. B. Oliveira Souto, T. M. Oliveira Júnior, M. Câmara Rodrigues, and M. Pichorim (2012). Aves de treze áreas de caatinga no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 20(3):312–328. Close ). Range only recently extended to NE Minas Gerais (10 Kirwan, G. M., J. Mazar Barnett, and J. Minns (2001). Significant ornithological observations from the Rio São Francisco Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with notes on conservation and biogeography. Ararajuba 9(2):145–161. Close , 11 Kirwan, G. M., J. Mazar Barnett, M. F. Vasconcelos, M. A. Raposo, S. D’Angelo Neto, and I. Roesler (2004). Further comments on the avifauna of the middle São Francisco Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 124(3):207–220. Close ), and even more recently discovered in Alagoas (12 Pereira, G. A., F. A. Sonntag, A. E. M. Nobre de Almeida, A. Coelho Queiroz, E. Maurício Souto, A. Vieira S. Júnior, A. Siqueira de Paula, S. Leal, and P. Pereira Rodrigues (2015). Important bird records from Alagoas, Pernambuco and Paraíba, north-east Brazil (3). Cotinga 37: 56–60. Close ). Present in Raso da Catarina Ecological Station, NE Bahia, but considered scarce, and in Serra da Capivara National Park, Piauí, where more widespread and numerous, but hunted (5 Olmos, F. (1993). Birds of Serra da Capivara National Park in the “caatinga” of north-eastern Brazil. Bird Conservation International 3(1):21–36. Close ). Otherwise known from following additional protected areas: Mata Seca State Park (Minas Gerais) (13 Ferreira Dornelas, A. A., D. Costa de Paula, M. M. do Espírito Santo, G. A. Sánchez-Azofeifa, and L. O. Leite (2012). Avifauna do Parque Estadual da Mata Seca, norte de Minas Gerais. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 20(3):378–391. Close ), Chapada Diamantina National Park (Bahia), Serra das Confusões National Park, Sete Cidades National Park and Parque Ambiental de Teresina (Piauí), Serra Negra Biological Reserve, Mauricio Dantas Private Reserve and Catimbau National Park (Pernambuco) (14 Beserra de Farias, G. (2009). Aves do Parque Naciona do Catimbau, Buíque, Pernambuco, Brasil. Atualidades Ornitológicas. 147: 36–39. Close ), and RPPN Mãe-da-lua (1 Redies, H. (2013). Observations on White-browed Guan Penelope jacucaca in north-east Brazil. Cotinga. 35: 63–70. Close ) and Chapada do Araripe National Forest (Ceará) (15 Nascimento, J. L. X., I. L. S. Nascimento, and S. M. Azevedo (2000). Aves da Chapada do Araripe (Brasil): biologia e conservação. Ararajuba 8(2):115–125. Close ). Apparently still occurs in some densely populated areas and has been seen offered locally for sale. In 1988, was reckoned not to be rare overall, but under great pressure due to habitat loss and hunting, and numbers overall believed to have declined by up to 50% (3 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ). Uncommon in collections, but has been bred in Mexico and in Brazil.