Helmeted Curassow
Pauxi pauxi
The Helmeted Curassow (Pauxi pauxi) is a legendary guans, curassows, and chachalaca found in 2 countries, weighing about 3.1 kg. The helmeted curassow or northern helmeted curassow, is a large terrestrial bird in the family Cracidae found in the subtropical cloud-forest in steep, mountainous regions of western Venezuela and northern Colombia.
About the Helmeted Curassow
The helmeted curassow or northern helmeted curassow, is a large terrestrial bird in the family Cracidae found in the subtropical cloud-forest in steep, mountainous regions of western Venezuela and northern Colombia. There are two subspecies found in different mountain ranges. It is a mostly black bird with a white tip to its tail, a red bill and a distinctive grey casque on its forehead. The population of this bird is in decline and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "endangered".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
It is a large terrestrial black curassow with a small head, large bluish grey casque on forehead, red bill, white-tipped tail feathers, greenish glossed mantle and breast feathers, and white below. Both sexes are similar. Length in adult birds can vary from 80 to 100 cm (31 to 39 in). The male, at 3.6 kg (8 lbs), is larger than the female, at 2.6 kg (5.8 lbs). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 36.3 to 42.7 cm (14.3 to 16.8 in), the tail is 30.4 to 36.2 cm (12.0 to 14.3 in) and the tarsus is 8.9 to 11.2 cm (3.5 to 4.4 in).
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Helmeted Curassow?
- It is a large terrestrial black curassow with a small head, large bluish grey casque on forehead, red bill, white-tipped tail feathers, greenish glossed mantle and breast feathers, and white below. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Helmeted Curassow?
- The Helmeted Curassow is a huge sized bird weighing about 3.1 kg.
- Where can you see a Helmeted Curassow?
- The Helmeted Curassow occurs in 2 countries, including Venezuela and Colombia.
- What birds look similar to a Helmeted Curassow?
- The Helmeted Curassow is most easily confused with the Horned Curassow and the Sira Curassow.
- Is the Helmeted Curassow endangered?
- The Helmeted Curassow is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Helmeted Curassow for real
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