Rusty-margined Guan

The Rusty-margined Guan, a member of the Cracidae family, is a bird of considerable charm, with its length ranging from 55 to 73 cm. This species exhibits a dark olive to brownish plumage, with the characteristic reddish margins on the wing coverts and scapulars that give it its name. The underparts are tinged with a similar rusty hue. Its face is a pale contrast, adorned with a supercilium that varies in color from white to buff or ochre across its subspecies.

Identification Tips

To identify the Rusty-margined Guan, look for its distinctive reddish wing margins and the pale supercilium on its face. The nominate subspecies is generally heavier, weighing between 950 to 1,150 grams, while P. s. jacupemba is lighter, at 750 to 880 grams. P. s. jacupemba is also paler overall, and P. s. major is darker, aiding in distinguishing between the subspecies.

Habitat

This guan thrives in a diverse array of environments, from the interiors and fringes of dense forests to gallery forests, restinga, and woodlands amidst cerrado grasslands. It is also found in caatinga, mangroves, and even Eucalyptus plantations. While predominantly a lowland bird, it can be encountered up to elevations of 1,300 meters in certain Brazilian locales.

Distribution

The Rusty-margined Guan is distributed across a broad swath of South America, from Amazonian Brazil south of the Amazon River to eastern Bolivia, eastern Paraguay, and the northeastern extremities of Argentina.

Behaviour

This guan is largely sedentary, with some populations roosting at higher elevations and descending to feed, traversing elevation changes of up to 400 meters. Flight is typically short, rarely exceeding 20 meters.

Feeding

The diet of the Rusty-margined Guan is predominantly frugivorous, with a study noting the fruit of 117 plant species in its diet. It also consumes modest amounts of flowers, leaves, and insects. Feeding occurs alone, in pairs, or in small groups, and while it often forages above the ground, it is not averse to ground feeding.

Breeding

Breeding season for this species spans from October to February in Argentina and August to February in southeastern Brazil, with less clarity on timing in other regions. The nest is a simple stick platform lined with leaves, situated in a tree, and typically contains a clutch of three eggs.

Song & calls

The Rusty-margined Guan's vocal repertoire includes a "gruff barking" call, which may serve as an alarm or be used in other contexts. It also performs a wing-whirring display, the details of which remain elusive.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Rusty-margined Guan as Near Threatened. While it can be reasonably common within protected areas, poaching remains a significant threat to its well-being.