Curassows

General Information

The 14 species of curassows are found in rain forests of South America. The one exception is the Great curassow which ranges from Mexico to Colombia. Curassows are generally larger and more terrestrial than guans and chachalacas. The different species have distinctive, brilliantly colored knobs and wattles (red, yellow, blue to orange) of varying shapes that function in sexual displays and pair bonding. Male curassows make a low-pitched booming sound although females also make a low-pitched sound. Yellow-knobbed and Wattled curassows emit a long whistle that sounds like a firecracker.

SPECIES: Blue-billed curassow, Crax alberti

STATUS:

CITES: Appendix III

IUCN: Critical

DISTRIBUTION: N Colombia

THREATS: Habitat loss because of fragmentation and hunting for food.

WILD POPULATION: 1,000-2,500

SPECIES: Yellow-knobbed curassow, Crax daubentoni

STATUS:

CITES: Appendix III

IUCN: Vulnerable

DISTRIBUTION: N Venezuela, NE Colombia

THREATS: Hunting for food and illegal sport, habitat loss because of fragmentation.

WILD POPULATION: 10,000-40,000

SPECIES: Bare-faced curassow, Crax fasciolata

STATUS:

CITES: Appendix

IUCN:

DISTRIBUTION: Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, West Central Bolivia

THREATS: Habitat loss, hunting for food, human interference.

WILD POPULATION:

SPECIES: Northern Helmeted Curassow, Pauxi pauxi

STATUS:

CITES: Appendix III

IUCN: Endangered

DISTRIBUTION: W Venezuela, NE Colombia

THREATS: Hunting for food, poaching, illegal sport hunting, habitat loss because of fragmentation.

WILD POPULATION: less than 3,000

SPECIES: Great Curassow, Crax rubra

STATUS:

CITES: Appendix

IUCN: Endangered

DISTRIBUTION: Mexico to Panama, Colombia

THREATS: Hunting for food, loss of habitat, loss of habitat due to fragmentation.

WILD POPULATION: +/- 5000