{{short description|Species of bird}} {{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{Speciesbox | name = Band-tailed guan | image = Annals of the Carnegie Museum (1922) (18413004515).jpg | image_caption = ''Penelope argyrotis'' | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2023 |title=''Penelope argyrotis'' |article-number=e.T22678354A226875384 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T22678354A226875384.en}}</ref> | genus = Penelope | species = argyrotis | authority = (Bonaparte, 1856) | synonyms = | range_map = Penelope argyrotis map.svg
}} The '''band-tailed guan''' ('''''Penelope argyrotis''''') is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.<ref name=IOC11.2>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ |title=IOC World Bird List (v 11.2) |last1=Gill |first1= F. |last2=Donsker|first2=D.|last3=Rasmussen |first3=P. |date=July 2021 |access-date=July 14, 2021 }}</ref>
==Taxonomy and systematics==
The band-tailed guan is closely related to bearded guan (''Penelope barbata'') and they at times have been considered conspecific. The band-tailed guan has three subspecies, the nominate ''P. a. argyrotis'', ''P. a. albicauda'', and ''P. a. colombiana''. The last of these has sometimes been treated as a separate species, and two other subspecies split from ''albicauda'' and ''colombiana'' have been proposed, but these treatments have not gained support.<ref name=BTGU-BOW>del Hoyo, J. and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Band-tailed Guan (''Penelope argyrotis''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.batgua1.01 retrieved September 26, 2021</ref>
thumb|left|Band-tailed guan ==Description==
The band-tailed guan is {{convert|50|to|61|cm|ft|1|abbr=on}} long. Males weigh {{convert|686|to|981|g|lb|1|abbr=on}} and females {{convert|625|to|900|g|lb|1|abbr=on}}. The nominate subspecies' upperparts are blackish-brown to dark rufous with conspicuous white streaks. Its breast is olive brown and belly is pale to medium brown. Its face is pale grey to white and it has a prominent red dewlap. It gets its name from the wide chestnut band across the end of the tail. ''P. a. albicauda'' differs from the nominate by having buffy tips on the tail feathers. ''P. a. colombiana'' has more white on the crown and less white on the face than the nominate.<ref name=BTGU-BOW/>
==Distribution and habitat==
The nominate subspecies of band-tailed guan is found in the eastern Andes of Colombia and western Venezuela and also in the Venezuelan Coastal Range. ''P. a. albicauda'' is found in the Serranía del Perijá of northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. The nominate ''P. a. argyrotis'' is restricted to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of northern Colombia. They mostly inhabit dense wet virgin forest, though they will sometimes be found in secondary forest, shade coffee plantations, and the upper reaches of drier forest. In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta they range in elevation from {{convert|550|to|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}} and in Venezuela usually from {{convert|800|to|2400|m|ft|abbr=on}}, though locally much higher or lower.<ref name=BTGU-BOW/>
==Behavior== ===Feeding===
The band-tailed guan usually forages in groups of up to six, but more may feed in a fruit-laden tree. It feeds on fruit, usually in the mid-story, but will eat fallen fruit on the ground.<ref name=BTGU-BOW/>
===Breeding===
The band-tailed guan's breeding season extends from January to May. It is territorial though several territories may be close to each other. The nest is a loose structure of plant matter placed up to {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}} high in a tree.<ref name=BTGU-BOW/>
===Vocal and non-vocal sounds===
{{birdsong|url=https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Penelope-argyrotis |species=band-tailed guan}} The band-tailed guan uses a wing-rattling display to announce territories; it sounds like "canvas ripping forward, then in reverse". Alarm calls are "soft, piping whistles" and in extreme alarm "a repeated shrieking 'GUEEA!' interspersed by various gruff notes".<ref name=BTGU-BOW/>
==Status==
The IUCN has assessed the band-tailed guan as being of Least Concern.<ref name=IUCN/> It is uncommon to fairly common in most of its range and in Venezuela occurs in several protected areas. However, it is threatened by deforestation and hunting.<ref name=BTGU-BOW/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/band-tailed-guan-penelope-argyrotis Band-tailed Guan videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
{{Taxonbar|from=Q516052}}
band-tailed guan Category:Birds of the Colombian Andes Category:Birds of the Venezuelan Andes Category:Birds of the Venezuelan Coastal Range band-tailed guan band-tailed guan Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot