Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family:Cracidae
Scientific Name: Crax blumenbachii
IUCN Red List status: Endangered
Protected by the following WLT projects:
Species Range (IUCN)
Description
The Red-billed Curassow is a large bird belonging to the Cracidae family. The Red-billed Curassow has glossy black feathers, with a white vent and curly crest. Males are distinguished by a conspicuous reddish-orange knob wattle around the bill. Females have a cinnamon-rufous vent, and shorter black crest; they are barred with white and their bills lack the red wattles of the male.
Threats and Conservation
This species of curassow has suffered heavily from hunting throughout the Neotropics and as they spend most of their time on the forest floor they are easy prey for other wildlife and are also particularly susceptible to habitat destruction. The total population in the wild is estimated to be as low as 250 individuals and consequently the Red-billed Curassow is critically threatened with extinction. WLT's partners in Brazil, REGUA, have recently introduced captive-bred birds into the Atlantic Rainforest Reserve.
