Crested Guan

Penelope purpurascens

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderGalliformes (Landfowl)
FamilyCracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows)
GenusPenelope (Typical Guans)
SpeciesPenelope purpurascens (Crested Guan)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

3 Verified sightings at Ostional Wildlife Refuge From 2019 to 2026

24,991 Verified sightings across all 45 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Crested Guan

The crested guan (Penelope purpurascens) is a Near Threatened species in an ancient group of birds of the family Cracidae, which are related to the Australasian megapodes or mound builders (Megapodiidae). It is found from central Mexico through Central America and in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

The crested guan has three subspecies, the nominate P. p. purpurascens (Wagler, 1830), P. p. aequatorialis (Salvadori & Festa, 1900), and P. p. brunnescens (Hellmayr & Conover, 1932). The crested guan is 76 to 91.5 cm (30 to 36 in) long and weighs about 1.6 to 2.4 kg (3.5 to 5.3 lb). Among standard measurements, its wing chord is 33 to 37 cm (13 to 15 in), its tail is 29 to 36 cm (11 to 14 in), and its tarsus is 6.5 to 8.6 cm (2.6 to 3.4 in). It is similar in general appearance to a turkey, with a small head, long strong legs, and a long broad tail. The sexes are similar. Adults of the nominate subspecies are mostly dusky olive brown and have a faint greenish or purplish iridescence. Their belly and crissum are chestnut and the breast and belly feathers have white edges. Their throat has some bristles and its loose skin dangles as a... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Ortalis vetula

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Crax rubra

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~70%
2	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
3	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
4	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	~40%
5	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
6	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
7	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
8	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
9	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
10	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
11	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
12	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
13	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
14	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~10%
15	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
16	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
17	La Tigra National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
18	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
19	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
20	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
21	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
22	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
23	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
24	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
25	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
26	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
27	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
28	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
29	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
30	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
31	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
32	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
33	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
34	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
35	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
36	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
37	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
38	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
39	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
40	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
41	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
42	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
43	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
44	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
45	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data

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Crested Guan

About the Crested Guan

Recent sightings of Crested Guan in Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Closest Relatives at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Plain Chachalaca

Great Curassow

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found