Family Cracidae
chachalacas, curassows, and guans

Cracidae comprises 11 genera and 50 species. Taxa within Cracidae are commonly referred to as curassows (Nothocrax, Mitu, Pauxi, Crax), guans (Penelope, Pipile, Aburria, Chamaepetes, Penelopina, Oreophasis) or chachalacas (Ortalis). Cracids are large, blunt-winged birds with long, broad tails. Many species have ornaments (crests or casques) on the head or bill. Cracids are mostly forest dwelling arboreal birds. Unlike many other taxa within Galliformes, many cracids provide parental care to young. Cracids may play an important role as seed dispersers and seed predators in Neotropical forests. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Monroe and Sibley, 1993; Santamaria and Franco, 2000; Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990)

Cracids are found in the Neotropics, ranging from southern North America through much of South America. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Monroe and Sibley, 1993)

Cracids inhabit various forest types (humid, gallery, primary) located in lowland and mountainous regions (perhaps up to 4000 m). Some species inhabit secondary forests or scrub, or live in close proximity to human habitation. Cracids are arboreal birds, nesting, roosting and foraging in the trees. However, they can also be found foraging on the ground for fallen fruits and other food items. (Delacour and Amadon, 1973; Stiles and Skutch, 1991)

Analyses of molecular and morphological evidence generally support the monophyly of Cracidae and its inclusion in Galliformes. Relationships within Galliformes itself remain unclear. Some or all of the following groups are variously recognized: Megapodiidae (scrub fowl, brush-turkeys, mallee fowl), Cracidae (currasows, guans, chachalacas), Phasianidae (pheasants, partridges, francolins, Old World quail), Phasianidae (grouse), Phasianidae (turkeys), Numididae (guineafowl), Odontophoridae (New World quails). Molecular and morphological analyses have generated a variety of hypotheses concerning the relationships of Cracidae within Galliformes. Two proposed hypotheses suggest that either Cracidae is sister to Megapodiidae or that Cracidae and the rest of Galliformes form a group that is sister to Megapodiidae. The historical relationships within Cracidae remain unresolved. The number of reported genera ranges from seven to 11 and the number of reported species from 44 to 50. Taxa within Cracidae are commonly referred to as curassows (Nothocrax, Mitu, Pauxi, Crax), guans (Penelope, Pipile, Aburria, Chamaepetes, Penelopina, Oreophasis) or chachalacas (Ortalis). (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Dyke, Gulas, and Crowe, 2003; Haaramo, 2003; Livezey and Zusi, 2001; Monroe and Sibley, 1993; Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990; Sorenson et al., 2003)

Cracids are medium to large chicken-like birds with blunt-wings and long, broad tails. Cracid body lengths range from 50 cm to 1 m and weights range from to 550 to 4800 g. Curassows are the largest in body size and chachalacas are the smallest. Cracids generally have dark plumage that is brown, black, or gray in color. Except for curassows, the sexes are similar in plumage coloration. Exposed skin of the ceres, dewlaps, horns, bills or legs may be brightly colored red or blue. In many cracids males are larger than females. Bills are strong and may be brightly colored. In some species the color of the iris is sexually dimorphic. Curassows are crested with curved feathers on top of the head. Cracids may have a casque, hard comb, wattle or fleshy knob at the base of the bill. Chicks are downy at hatching and may have light brown, black, or striped plumage. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Delacour and Amadon, 1973; Stiles and Skutch, 1991)

One cracid, a great curassow (Crax rubra), reportedly lived for 24 years. (Delacour and Amadon, 1973)

Cracids are largely arboreal birds that spend much of the time feeding, nesting and roosting in trees. Cracids also forage on the ground for fallen fruits and other food items. Guans and perhaps chachalacas may be more arboreal than curassows. Guans are most active at dawn and dusk, often seen in pairs walking and feeding amongst the tree branches. Some curassows are particularly active at night and are often seen in pairs, but after breeding season may forage in small family groups. Chachalacas are seen foraging, roosting and flying in noisy groups. Cracids generally glean fruits from the branches of fruiting trees or forage on the ground for fallen fruit. Some cracids have a crop or expandable esophagus for food storage while foraging. Small pebbles may be ingested ('grit') which is thought to help in the digestion of food. Many Cracids run easily along tree branches and jump from tree branch to tree branch when moving towards the treetops. From the treetops cracids may fly or glide or flutter to other locations. Cracids may jump straight up or head- flick when alarmed or nervous. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Delacour and Amadon, 1973; Stiles and Skutch, 1991)

Some cracids have brightly colored skin on the face or neck, or ornaments such as wattles, casques or combs. Coloration of these parts may vary with breeding and may play a role in mate choice.

Cracid vocalizations may be loud and raucous, whistling or booming. Presence of a long looped trachea or air chambers located in the neck may amplify the volume of vocalizations. Chachalaca vocalizations are described as raucous and choruses of chachalacas can be heard most often at dawn or dusk. Currasows may vocalize by cooing or long low booming. Guan vocalizations may be characterized as whistling.

During nesting season some cracids produce audible sounds by vibrating their wings. The sounds have been described as drumming, rattling or whirring. These sounds are produced while the birds fly from treetop to treetop and are heard most often at dawn or dusk. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Delacour and Amadon, 1973; Stiles and Skutch, 1991)

Cracids are characterized as frugivorous, but are known to eat other plant material and small animals. Other plant material includes: leaves, seeds and flowers. Invertebrates eaten by cracids include: worms, terrestrial snails and crabs, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, beetles, ants, termites, moths, dragonflies, grasshoppers and cockroaches. Cracids also forage for small vertebrates including: frogs, snakes, nestling birds and small rodents. Cracids have also been noted to consume eggs of pigeons, hummingbirds and tinamous. (Campbell and Lack, 1985; Delacour and Amadon, 1973; Santamaria and Franco, 2000; Stiles and Skutch, 1991)

Predators of cracids include snakes (suborder Serpentes), foxes (family Canidae), feral cats (Felis silvestris), feral dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and raptors (order Falconiformes). (Delacour and Amadon, 1973)

Cracids play important ecosystem roles as seed dispersers and seed predators. Cracids are also important indicators of habitat quality. (IUCN, 2003; Santamaria and Franco, 2000)

There are no known adverse affects of Cracids on humans.

Humans hunt cracids for food or trade. Cracids are becoming an important species for the ecotourism industry. (Delacour and Amadon, 1973; IUCN, 2003; Santamaria and Franco, 2000)

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species includes a total of 23 cracid species. One species, Alagoas curassow (Mita mita), is extinct in the wild. Three species are listed as 'Critically Endangered' (blue-billed curassow (Crax alberti); white-winged guan (Penelope albipennis); Trinindad piping guan (Pipile pipile). Major threats include habitat loss and hunting. (2003 IUCN, 2003; Collar, Crosby, and Stattersfield, 1994)