Crax alberti
The Blue-billed Curassow, Crax alberti, is a striking and critically endangered gamebird native to Colombia. Males are dramatically adorned with a glossy black plumage, contrasting sharply with a bright white lower abdomen, and are most famously distinguished by their vivid sky-blue cere and wattle on the beak, which intensifies during breeding season. Females exhibit strong sexual dimorphism, typically being entirely black, though some polymorphic forms possess a rufous belly and white-barre...
This species primarily inhabits humid lowland tropical and subtropical forests, favoring dense undergrowth near rivers. They are typically found at elevations below 600 meters, though occasionally recorded up to 1,200 meters.
Their diet consists primarily of fallen fruits, seeds, leaves, and flowers gathered from the forest floor, supplemented by invertebrates.
Blue-billed Curassows are diurnal birds, spending their days foraging on the forest floor, though they readily ascend into the tree canopy for fruit or to escape danger, and roost high in trees at night. Their foraging strategy involves meticulously sifting through leaf litter with their strong f...
The Blue-billed Curassow is endemic to the humid lowland forests of northern Colombia, primarily found in fragmented populations within the Magdalena River Valley and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Historically, its range was more widespread across western and central parts of...
Critically Endangered
- The Blue-billed Curassow is named after King Albert I of Belgium. - It is one of the most critically endangered bird species in the world, facing imminent extinction. - The male's striking blue cere and wattle are a unique and unparalleled feature among all curassow species. - Female Blue-bille...