Observe and photograph a species in its natural habitat
Learn where and when to observe a species in the wild, how to recognize it in the field, and what habitats it lives in. Get photography tips adapted to its behavior and capture stunning images without disturbing the animal. For full details, open the complete profile in the WildlifePhotographer app.
Crested Guan
Scientific name: Penelope purpurascens

IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Family: CRACIDAE
Group: Birds
Shyness: Suspicious
Safe distance: 30 m
Breeding season / Courtship: 01.03-30.04
Gestation: 26 jours
Births: 01.04-15.05
Habitat:
Humid tropical lowland and montane forests, up to 1850 m altitude
Description:
The Crested Guan is a large forest bird, measuring between 76 and 91 cm in length and weighing up to 2.4 kg. It has dark olive-brown plumage with white spots on the neck and chest, a rufous rump and belly, and a bushy crest on its head. Its throat features a large red wattle, and the skin around the eye is bluish-gray. Social in nature, it lives in pairs or family groups of 6 to 12 individuals, feeding on fruits and young leaves in the trees. It builds its nest in trees, where the female lays two or three white eggs. Although classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, it is vulnerable to habitat loss and hunting.
Recommended lens:
>=300 mm
Photography tips:
Use a telephoto lens to photograph the Crested Guan perched in the canopy. Opt for early morning light to benefit from soft lighting and observe its natural behavior without disturbance.
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