The band-tailed guan is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes and coastal ranges of northern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid foothill and montane forests of Colombia and Venezuela, including the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Serranía del Perijá, the Eastern and Central Andes, and Venezuelan coastal cordilleras. It favors mature forest but also uses secondary growth, forest edges, and fruiting trees along ridges and ravines. Birds are typically arboreal, moving between canopy and midstory in search of fruit. It can persist in patchy landscapes where hunting pressure is low.
Altitude Range
300–2500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
A shy, arboreal guan of humid montane forests, the band-tailed guan spends much of its time foraging quietly in the canopy. Its name comes from the broad pale band at the tip of the tail, a key field mark when seen from behind. Males often produce a distinctive wing-whirr during display flights at dawn and dusk. Hunting pressure and forest loss affect some local populations, but the species persists across several mountain ranges.
Band-tailed guan
Temperament
shy and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs, family groups, or small flocks, moving quietly through the canopy. Nests are platform-like structures placed in trees, and pairs are thought to be monogamous during the breeding season. Roosting can be communal in safe canopy sites. They often follow routes between favored fruiting trees.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include low, resonant hoots and gruff clucks, often delivered at dawn from concealed perches. Males also perform non-vocal displays with loud wing-whirring sounds during short display flights.
