It is a poorly known and scarce resident of dry, lowland stunted forest, open woodland, caatinga and occasionally campo rupestre (Sick 1993, del Hoyo et al. 1994). It appears to prefer the most humid areas and the proximity of water courses (ICMBio 2018, del Hoyo and Kirwan 2020). It shows some tolerance of degraded and selectively logged habitats (ICMBio 2018, del Hoyo and Kirwan 2020).

Penelope jacucaca is endemic to Piauí, Ceará, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Bahia and north-east Minas Gerais, north-east Brazil (Sick 1993). There are no recent records from near coastal areas of Alagoas or Paraíba, as claimed in the past, and the species is considered extinct there.

Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in several protected areas throughout its range, including Sete Cidades, Serra das Confusões and Serra da Capivara national parks (Piauí), Catimbau National Park (Pernambuco) and Chapada de Diamantina National Park (Bahia; ICMBio 2018). The species is included in a multi-species action plan to reduce habitat loss and hunting pressure for caatinga birds (ICMBio 2019).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys to assess the population size. Conduct research into the extent and level of hunting pressure on the species. Monitor the population trend. Monitor rates of habitat loss. Monitor the extent of hunting.
Improve de facto protection of protected areas within its range. Initiate local awareness campaigns to combat hunting within and outside of protected areas.