Helmeted Curassow
A species of Helmeted Curassows Scientific name : Pauxi pauxi Genus : Helmeted Curassows
Helmeted Curassow, A species of Helmeted Curassows
Botanical name: Pauxi pauxi
Genus: Helmeted Curassows
Content
Description General Info
Description
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). Some rare rufous morph female has a black barred and reddish brown plumage. For some time, it also contained the horned curassow taxa as subspecies. Nowadays its southern congener is considered a distinct species P. unicornis. 
Size
92 cm
Feeding Habits
Helmeted Curassow primarily eat fallen fruits, seeds, along with tender leaves, grasses, and undergrowth buds. They forage on the ground, usually in small groups during early morning and late afternoon. Regurgitation of non-digestible seeds is a notable behavior.
Habitat
The helmeted Curassow primarily inhabits dense, wet montane cloud forests in subtropical zones, favoring areas with steep slopes. These forests are characterized by a rich undergrowth of dwarf palms and terrestrial aroids, with the birds showing a preference for humid gorges. While predominantly found in cloud forests, the helmeted Curassow can also be present in adjacent tropical and temperate forests, avoiding forest borders and seeking very dense vegetation cover.
Dite type
Omnivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
One of the largest birds in its habitat, the helmeted curassow is distributed in the eastern Andes of Venezuela and Colombia. In a recent study done in Tamá National Natural Park of Colombia, it suggested that the park contains a significant population of helmeted curassow with a population density of 4.8 individuals per square kilometer. Furthermore, it was noted that most of the observed helmeted curassow occupied the lower strata, forest floor and subcanopy, of the forest, where they are vulnerable to poachers during the dry season. The diet consists mainly of seeds, fruits, insects and small animals. The female lays two cream-colored eggs and incubates them for about 30 days.
Species Status
The helmeted curassow is listed on Appendix II of CITES. Formerly classified as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN, recent research shows that its numbers are decreasing more and more rapidly. It is consequently uplisted to Endangered status in 2008.
Scientific Classification
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