Crax fasciolata
The Bare-faced Curassow (*Crax fasciolata*) is a striking large gamebird native to South America, instantly recognizable by its glossy black plumage, contrasting white lower belly, and distinctively bare, often bright yellow or reddish facial skin. Males typically measure 75-85 cm in length and weigh 2.5-3.5 kg, exhibiting a prominent yellow cere and wattle above the bill, while females are slightly smaller, possessing a less prominent, often pinkish or reddish facial skin, and display notabl...
Found primarily in lowland evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, gallery forests along rivers, and wooded savannas. Prefers areas with dense undergrowth and access to water, typically at elevations up to 900 meters.
Mainly frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of fallen fruits and berries, complemented by seeds, flowers, and leaves. They also opportunistically forage for insects and other small invertebrates on the forest floor.
Bare-faced Curassows are primarily diurnal, spending much of their day foraging on the forest floor, though they roost in tall trees at night. Their foraging strategy involves walking slowly, scratching the leaf litter with their strong feet and bills to uncover fallen fruits, seeds, and inverteb...
The Bare-faced Curassow's distribution spans a significant portion of central South America, primarily across eastern Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The nominate subspecies, *C. f. fasciolata*, occupies the broadest range, stretching from eastern Bolivia through t...
Least Concern
- The bare facial skin of the male Bare-faced Curassow, typically bright yellow, intensifies in color during the breeding season, signaling health and reproductive fitness. - Despite their large size, these curassows are surprisingly agile climbers, using their strong legs and bills to navigate t...