White-winged Guan (Penelope albipennis)
Discovered in 1877 by a Polish ornithologist, it was believed extinct for 100 years until its rediscovery in 1977 by Gustavo del Solar, a hunter-turned-conservationist who founded a special breeding project to reintroduce it to the wild.
Justification This species qualifies as Critical because it has an extremely small and declining population with a severely fragmented distribution. Further surveys and concerted conservation action (the beginnings of which are apparent) may result in an improved assessment of this species's status.
Identification 70 cm. Medium-sized, dark brown cracid with white primaries. Pale flecking on neck, upper breast and wing-coverts. Extensive, bare orange-red throat and double-lobed dewlap. Blue bill with black tip. Purple facial skin around eye. Voice Very deep, hoarse och..och...och, especially during breeding season.
Population estimate 50-249
Population trend decreasing (continuing)
Range estimate 3120 km²
Country Endemic? Yes
Range & Population Penelope albipennis survives in Lambayeque and Piura, north-west Peru, and may yet be found in south Ecuador. Recent surveys have found guans in 18% of 250 small river valleys, with an average of 3.3 guans per valley. It was initially discovered in Tumbes in 1876-1877, but there have been no subsequent records. However, there are local reports from Cerros de Amotape National Park, north Piura. The population is possibly fewer than 100 individuals and still declining. In 1999, a captive-breeding programme held 97 birds.
Ecology It inhabits dry wooded slopes and ravines at elevations of 300-900 m, rarely as high as 1,200 m, and may have formerly occurred in coastal gallery forest. It favours valleys with small permanent streams or waterholes, and dry deciduous forest with dense cover and little human disturbance. Some seasonal movements appear to take place, but the exact nature of these is unclear. It feeds on fruit, flowers, leaves, buds and seeds. It has also been observed in agricultural land, feeding on the leaves of maize, beans and sweet potatoes, and the fruit of coffee plants. Breeding occurs in January-August, and two or three eggs are laid.
Threats It may have declined partly as a result of hunting. However, habitat destruction, through clearance for agriculture and cutting for timber, artisanal woodcrafts, charcoal and firewood, is now the greatest threat.
