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Penelope albipennis
– Critically Endangered
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AVES
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Order:
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GALLIFORMES
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Family:
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CRACIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Penelope albipennis
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Species Authority:
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Taczanowski, 1878
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Common Name/s:
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WHITE-WINGED GUAN (Eng)
PÉNÉLOPE À AILES BLANCHES (Fre)
PAVA ALIBLANCA (Spa)
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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CR C2a(i) ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2004
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Wege, D. & Benstead, P. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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This species qualifies as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small and declining population with a severely fragmented distribution. Further surveys and concerted conservation action (the beginnings of which are apparent) may result in an improved assessment of this species’ status.
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History:
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| 1988 | - | Threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988) |
| 1994 | - | Critically Endangered (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994) |
| 2000 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2000) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Penelope albipennis survives in Lambayeque and Piura2, north-west Peru, and may yet be found in south Ecuador. Recent surveys have found guans in 18% of 250 small river valleys, with an average of 3.3 guans per valley2. It was initially discovered in Tumbes in 1876-1877, but there have been no subsequent records2. However, there are local reports from Cerros de Amotape National Park, north Piura2,4. The population is possibly fewer than 100 individuals and still declining. In 1999, a captive-breeding programme held 97 birds3,7.
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Range Map:
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 (click for detailed map)
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Countries:
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Native:
Peru
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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It inhabits dry wooded slopes and ravines at elevations of 300-900 m, rarely as high as 1,200 m, and may have formerly occurred in coastal gallery forest. It favours valleys with small permanent streams or waterholes, and dry deciduous forest with dense cover and little human disturbance. Some seasonal movements appear to take place, but the exact nature of these is unclear5. It feeds on fruit, flowers, leaves, buds and seeds. It has also been observed in agricultural land, feeding on the leaves of maize, beans and sweet potatoes, and the fruit of coffee plants5. Breeding occurs in January-August, and two or three eggs are laid5.
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System:
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Terrestrial
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Threats
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Threats:
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It may have declined partly as a result of hunting. However, habitat destruction, through clearance for agriculture and cutting for timber, artisanal woodcrafts, charcoal and firewood, is now the greatest threat.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
CITES Appendix I. Surveys have been conducted over a wide area of north-west Peru2. The species and its habitat are legally protected, but there is little or no enforcement4. The Laquipampa Reserved Zone was established specifically to protect the guan, but is considered a 'paper' reserve, although guan populations appear to reasonably secure at this site8. The Santa Catalina village community is seeking protected status for 400 km² of its land3. There has been a training workshop for park guards involving members of the Laquipampa and Santa Catalina communities3. Small-scale experimental re-introductions commenced at Chapparri Private Conservation Area in Lambayeque in 2001 in an effort to fill a gap in its range9. This conservation breeding scheme released 13 birds in 2003/4, bringing the total population in the Conservation Area to 26 individuals in 200410.
Conservation measures proposed:
Survey Cerros de Amotape National Park2,3. Survey Arenillas Military Reserve, south Ecuador1. Monitor natural and reintroduced populations7. Continue and expand local awareness campaigns3,6,7. Improve de facto protection of Laquipampa Reserved Zone3. Develop the potential for ecotourism3,7.
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