The Wattled Guan is distributed in the Andes from western Venezuela to southern Peru. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found in montane forest mainly between 1,000 and 2,000 metres.

It is generally black with pale yellow legs. The bill is blue with a black tip. The most obvious feature is the bright yellow, thin, dangling dewlap. It looks quite short in this individual which might indicate a younger bird but might also be due to the angle of view.

It is classified as Near Threatened due to the loss of its habitat and also to hunting. Although difficult to see in the canopy and sub-canopy it has a very distinctive call which allows it to be located by both birders and hunters.