[2][3] The bird was first formally described in 1911 by the American ornithologist Outram Bangs, based on the type specimen collected on 5 June 1908 by Mervin G. Palmer at San Luis in the Bitaco Valley of western Colombia.

[7] These are large birds, measuring c.75–85 cm in length, with the typical plump body, long tail and small head of the Cracidae species.

The head, neck and mantle of the Cauca guan are dark grey, blending into the reddish chestnut colour of the rump, scapulars, wing coverts and upper tail surfaces.

The grey feathers of the mantle, throat, breast and belly are outlined in white, creating a scaled appearance.

The bird has a prominent bright red gular sac which is larger than that of the Andean guan, a possible confusion species.

[11][12]: 18–19 In periods when fruit is scarce (September to December) they have been observed feeding heavily on young leaves of Chinese ash, an introduced species.

In the Otún Quimbaya Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (Santuario de Fauna y Flora Otún Quimbaya) breeding runs from January to June, coinciding with periods where fruit is most abundant, although active nests have been found as early as December.

[2][15] The principal threat is the isolation of the species into small relict populations due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation.

The areas where the bird is known to survive are surrounded by large expanses of deforested land so there is no potential for the populations to grow beyond the carrying capacity of these fragments.

One study concluded that up to 100 birds are killed annually in and around the main population nucleus in the Risaralda-Quindío area.

[2] The two largest population remnants are inside protected areas (PNR Ucumarí/SFF Otún Quimbaya, and the Bosque de Yotoco Natural Reserve).

[16][17] The Cali Zoo operates a captive breeding programme for Cauca guan, which will be useful should there be an opportunity to reintroduce the species into suitable habitat.