Helmeted curassow

Helmeted curassow
Pauxi pauxi, Linnaeus, 1766

It lives in tropical forests or on their outskirts, being particularly fond of dense thickets. Both sexes are coloured in the same way. After hatching the females are reddish-brown at first and only later do they become black. They can fly very well and move efficiently from one tree to another. Habitat loss presents a threat to this species; so do hunting and poaching. Local indigenous people place heads of these birds at the entrance to their houses; the number
of the heads determines the social status of the host.
Distribution: North-East Colombia, North-West Venezuela

male / female
body length: 85–92 cm
wingspan: 38,2–42,7 cm / 36,3–38,5 cm
body mass: 3,5–3,75 kg / ca. 2,65 kg