This large frugivore inhabits humid montane forest and cloud-forest at 1,500-3,200 m, and regularly down to 1,200 m in Lambayeque. It is usually seen in pairs or small groups of up to six individuals. Its breeding ecology is poorly known, but adults with chicks have been recorded in February-July (Angulo and Aleman 2006), and juveniles have been observed in May, June and August in Bosque de Cuyas, Ayabaca (N. Krabbe in litt. 2007). A nest found in Laquipampa was situated in gallery forest in a tree c.3 m above ground (F. Angulo in litt. 2007). The species feeds on plants, especially Ficus spp. in Laquipampa (F. Angulo in litt. 2007); a recent study found that its diet consists largely of fruits from the families Lauraceae (39%), Myrtaceae (20.3%) and Meliaceae (14%) (Gomez 2006).

Penelope barbata has a restricted range in southern Ecuador (Azuay, El Oro, Loja) and northwestern Peru in Piura (Huancabamba, Ayabaca, including Aypate, El Toldo, Bosque de Cuyas and Cerro Huamingas, Maray and Cerro Chinguela [Begazo and Valqui 2000, Flanagan et al. 2000]), Lambayeque (Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge [Angulo and Aleman 2006]) and Cajamarca (Saña valley, Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary [Amanzo et al. 2003]) departments. The area of suitable habitat within its range in Ecuador is estimated at c. 2,600 km² (Krabbe et al. 1998); the area of suitable habitat in Peru is probably larger. In 1989, the population in Ecuador was estimated at c.3,000 individuals (1,000-6,000), occurring at a density of 2-4 birds/km². Recent surveys, however, have produced much higher density estimates in the Cordillera de Chilla (Jacobs and Walker 1999) and at two sites in Loja, where 33 birds/km² were recorded in a relatively well-protected area at Cajanuma and 17 birds/km² were estimated in a mining area at Curishiro (Medina et al. 1994). Montane forest in Podocarpus National Park possibly holds up to 1,000 pairs (I. Franke per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1999). Since 1989, other populations have been found in Ecuador, notably on Lomo Angashcola, Loma del Oro, Mamanunga and Santiago, Loja (Wege and Long 1995, Best et al. 1996, Flanagan et al. 2000). In Peru, the species it is relatively common in the upper Saña valley, Cajamarca (I. Franke per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1999), and has recently been discovered at several sites in Ayabaca and Cajamarca (J. P. O'Neill in litt. 1999). It has also been found in La Palizada at 31,00 m in the upper Chancay Valley and in several localities along the east side of the western cordillera in Lambayeque and Cajamarca, between Kañaris and Bosque de Proteccion Pagaibamba (F. Angulo in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Underway

The species is protected by law in Peru and Ecuador. It is protected within Podocarpus National Park, Tapichalaca Reserve, Huashapamba Forest Reserve, Bosque Protector Colambo-Yacuri and Angashcola Community Reserve in Ecuador; and Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge, Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary, Piura/Cajamarca and Bosque de Protección Pagaibamba in Peru (J. Flanagan in litt. 2001, Brooks 2006, F. Angulo in litt. 2007, J. P. O'Neill in litt. 1999, F. Angulo in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Proposed

Research habitat requirements and basic natural history (F. Angulo in litt. 2012). Encourage the protection of more forested areas in the Andes of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Support the establishment of private reserves like Tapichalaca. Ensure adequate protection of Podocarpus National Park and increase capacity and infrastructure for park staff. Support the reserves of Angashcola and Huashapamba (Ecuador). Expand the protected habitat network in montane areas of Lambayeque, Piura and Cajamarca, including the Cerro Chinguela (Brooks 2006). Implement proposals that help support communities to establish private reserves, such as the reserve at Bosque de Cuyas, Ayabaca, and increase capacity and infrastructure for park staff at Laquipampa (Peru). Determine the effect of hunting on the population (F. Angulo in litt. 2012). Campaign to stop hunting (F. Angulo in litt. 2012). Conduct educational campaigns highlighting the importance of the species for montane forests and produce a participative conservation strategy for the species. Search for further sites where the species can be found and estimate its density (Brooks 2006).