by Daniel Coffman

Created on: December 06, 2011   Last Updated: December 11, 2011

The Highland Guan, or Penelopina Negra, is one of the subtropical birds of the Guan group. Classified in the Family Cracidae, the Highland Guan resides mainly in the coastal regions of Southern Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. They are a resident of tropical moist montane forests, mainly in the highland regions, which are prone to cooler temperatures and greater rainfall than lowland tropical forests. The preferred habitats of the Highland Guans are cloud and pine-oak forests.

The Highland Guan is a sexually dimorphic animal, meaning that the male and female of the species differ in appearance. The male specimen is black with a bluish-green luster on the fringes and a dull brown belly. The face is distinguished by a red bill, eye-ring and throat wattle. The legs and feet are also red. Females are brown overall, larger, with a grey bill and dusty red cast to the legs. Highland Guan young resemble the females until maturity.

While normally a quiet and unobtrusive bird, the Highland Guan becomes quite noisome during mating season. The male emits a loud and far-carrying whistle to attract a mate, and their wings produce a conspicuous rattling sound as they flit from tree to tree in search of companionship. Outside of mating season, this guan is difficult to locate as they maintain a low profile, placing nests inside foliage, or even hidden at ground level. After mating, the female remains to incubate two white eggs.

Highland Guans are foragers, subsisting mainly on small fruits obtained either from the ground or in the lower canopy of the forest. Primarily solitary creatures, the Penelopina Negra generally forests alone or in pairs, preferring the relative safety of twilight for their “hunting”. When their primary food source becomes scarce, these birds can supplement their diet with flowers, insects and foliage to survive.

Originally listed as a species of “Least Concern” in 1994, the Highland Guan was uplisted to Near Threatened” in 2000. A victim of hunting pressure, this species of Guan is highly prized for its size and flavor. Due to this, and a steady loss of habitat because of the growing population centers encroaching on its habitat, the Highland Guan was reclassified as “Vulnerable” in 2007 on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. While local governments are doing little to maintain this bird’s population, several preserves have been established in Guatemala. Also, fire-prevention zones have been created around some plantations and orchards, consisting mainly of the fruit trees that provide the Highland Guan with sustenance.

Considered a wild animal, the Highland Guan, like others of the Guan Family, are not considered good pets for private owners. They are notoriously difficult to train and not family-friendly. In the wild, however, they are a beautiful and fascinating bird. Their calls and mating rituals provide a draw to the birdwatching community.

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