The Baudó guan is a species of bird from the family Cracidae. It is restricted to humid forests in the west Andean foothills of western Colombia and north-western Ecuador. It is highly sensitive to hunting and habitat destruction, with large sections of the main distribution in the Chocó having already disappeared. Consequently, it is considered to be endangered by BirdLife International and IUCN.
Region
Chocó bioregion and western Andean foothills of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador
Typical Environment
Found in humid lowland to foothill forests, especially along ridges and steep slopes of the west Andean flank. It favors primary forest but may use well-preserved secondary forest near intact tracts. The species typically forages in the mid- to upper canopy and is rarely seen in open areas. It is patchily distributed due to hunting and habitat loss, with strongholds in protected or remote forest blocks.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1400 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Baudó guan is a shy, canopy-dwelling cracid that plays an important role as a seed disperser in Chocó rainforests. It is highly sensitive to hunting and forest fragmentation, which has eliminated many local populations. Conservation actions focus on protecting remaining primary forests and reducing hunting pressure.
Temperament
solitary and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Roosts high in trees and spends most time in the canopy, descending rarely. Breeding behavior is poorly known but, like other guans, likely involves simple stick nests placed in dense vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives low, booming hoots at dawn and dusk that carry through the forest. Also produces soft clucks and grunts while foraging and a mechanical wing-whirr during display flights.
