Band-tailed Guan
Penelope argyrotis
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="penelope-argyrotis"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/penelope-argyrotis/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/penelope-argyrotis/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/penelope-argyrotis/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="penelope-argyrotis"></birdfyi-bird>The Band-tailed Guan (Penelope argyrotis) is a bird species in the family Cracidae (chachalacas, guans & curassows), within the order Galliformes (gamebirds). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 52.8 cm and a weight of 798 g. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
On this page
About
A medium-sized cracid (~800 g) of family Cracidae, with a distinctive pale-tipped tail band. Inhabits montane humid forests in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Andes of Colombia and Venezuela. Arboreal, feeding on fruits, seeds, and buds in the canopy. Least Concern; restricted to Andean cloud forest but common within its range and tolerates some forest disturbance.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 52.8 cm | 20.8 in |
| Weight | 798.0 g | 28.15 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Brownish-black above with fine white streaking on neck and chest; bare red facial skin; lower underparts chestnut; tail broad with distinctive pale grey subterminal band.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident in the Andes and mountains of Colombia and Venezuela from 1,000-2,400 m. Found in humid montane forest.
Diet & Feeding
Frugivorous; eats fruits, berries, leaves, flowers, and buds in Andean forests of Venezuela and Colombia. Also takes insects.
Conservation Status
Sound
Song
Produces a loud, honking cackle and resonant wing-whirring in display flights. The deep, carrying honk and wing-whirr display is characteristic of this Andean Penelope guan.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Cracidae (Chachalacas, Guans & Curassows) |
| Genus | Penelope |
| Species | Penelope argyrotis |
Distribution
Band-tailed Guan has been recorded in 3 countries.
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Band-tailed Guan eat?
Where does the Band-tailed Guan live?
Is the Band-tailed Guan endangered?
What does the Band-tailed Guan sound like?
How big is the Band-tailed Guan?
What order and family does the Band-tailed Guan belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Cracidae family