It is rich brown overall with white or silvery flecking on the head, breast, and upper back.

[4] The red-faced guan is found in a narrow band on the east side of the Andes of southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.

[4] The red-faced guan is thought to be largely sedentary, but some altitudinal movement has been reported in Argentina.

[4] The red-faced guan's breeding season has not been fully defined, but displaying and calling pairs have been documented between September and December.

[1] Though it has a restricted range, it occurs in several protected areas and its generally remote and inaccessible habitat make for less hunting pressure than most other guans receive.