Biology
provided by Arkive
The red-billed curassow spends most of its time on the ground where it forages for food, usually in pairs or small family groups of up to four birds (2). Foods taken include fallen fruits, tender leaves, seeds, buds and insects (2) (4).
The main breeding season is from September to October, when the males' booming calls can most often be heard, with chicks hatching over the next few months (4). Although polygamous behaviour has been observed, this may be the result of uneven hunting pressure between the sexes (2) (4). The nest is a platform of twigs and sticks, placed in a tree between two and six metres above the ground, into which one to four, typically two, eggs are laid and incubated for 28 days (2) (4). A female attains sexual maturity in her second or third year, and remains fertile for at least 11 years (2).
Conservation
provided by Arkive
This rare bird is protected under Brazilian law and listed on Appendix I of CITES, making international trade in the species illegal. Of the few reserves where this species can still be found, Sooretama and Linhares are the most effectively protected, and contain strongholds of over 60 and 100 individuals respectively (4). A captive-breeding and reintroduction programme in a number of protected sites in 1990 and 1991 has been highly successful, helping to boost numbers in the wild, but the total population nevertheless remains extremely small (2) (4). If this large and distinctive forest bird is to survive, it is imperative that all reserves with known populations are vigilantly patrolled and protected to prevent the hunting and trapping that continue to threaten its existence (4).
Description
provided by Arkive
This typically-coloured curassow, with glossy black plumage, white vent, and long black curly crest, can be identified by the conspicuous reddish-orange knob above the bill and large wattles below, for which it earns its common name (4) (5). In the female, the white areas of the male are replaced with deep cinnamon-rufous, the black crest is shorter and barred with white, the wings are vermiculated with rufous, and the bill lacks the distinctive red wattles of the male (4) (5). Calls include a low woop when foraging, and eeee-oooo when disturbed (4).
Habitat
provided by Arkive
A largely terrestrial bird found in tall, humid forest with rich undergrowth, although also frequenting more open spaces such as river banks, small floodplains and forest tracks (2) (4). This lowland species occurs up to around 500 m above sea level (2).
Range
provided by Arkive
This Brazilian endemic was formerly widespread across the east of the country, but has now vanished from most of this range, being largely confined to four or five reserves, with strongholds in Sooretama Biological Reserve and the adjacent Linhares Forest Reserve in Espírito Santo (4).
Status
provided by Arkive
Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List 2006 (1) and listed on Appendix I of CITES (3).
Threats
provided by Arkive
The red-billed curassow has suffered from habitat loss and hunting, and is now thought to be on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 250 individuals estimated to remain in small, fragmented subpopulations. Virtually all lowland forest north of Rio de Janeiro has disappeared outside of reserves, having been converted to plantations and pastureland. Even in Monte Pascoal National Park, habitat loss continues as a result of conflicts over the land rights of local people. Hunting and capture for the bird trade persist in some reserves and are likely to have a severe impact on such small, fragmented populations (4).
Red-billed curassow
provided by wikipedia EN
The red-billed curassow or red-knobbed curassow (Crax blumenbachii) is an endangered species of cracid that is endemic to lowland Atlantic Forest in the states of Espírito Santo, Bahia and Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. Its population is decreasing[2] due to hunting and deforestation, and it has possibly been extirpated from Minas Gerais. It is currently being reintroduced to Rio de Janeiro by means of individuals bred in captivity.[3] As suggested by its common name, the male has a largely red bill, but this is lacking in the female.
Description
The red-billed curassow is a large bird reaching a length of 82 to 92 centimetres (32 to 36 in). The male has pure black upper parts with a large black crest, and white underparts. There are bright red wattles and knobs at the base of the bill. The male can be distinguished from the wattled curassow (Crax globulosa) by being less bluish-black and from the black curassow (Crax alector) by being less purplish-black. The female lacks the wattles and has black upper parts, a black and white barred crest, reddish-brown wings barred and mottled with black, and reddish-brown or ochre underparts.[4]
Behaviour
The red-billed curassow is a largely ground-dwelling bird. It feeds on seeds, fruits, buds and small invertebrates. Males can be heard issuing their loud "booms" in September and October. Females lay a clutch of one to four eggs and the young are fledged by the end of the year.[1]
Status
The red-billed curassow has a very limited range in eastern Brazil and populations there are declining because of habitat loss and hunting. The virgin forest in which it lives has largely been converted to agricultural land and plantations, and the bird is only present now in reserves, and even here it is illegally hunted and captured for the bird trade. There has been a successful captive breeding programme but the International Union for Conservation of Nature rates its conservation status in the wild as "endangered".[1]
References
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Red-billed curassow: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The red-billed curassow or red-knobbed curassow (Crax blumenbachii) is an endangered species of cracid that is endemic to lowland Atlantic Forest in the states of Espírito Santo, Bahia and Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. Its population is decreasing due to hunting and deforestation, and it has possibly been extirpated from Minas Gerais. It is currently being reintroduced to Rio de Janeiro by means of individuals bred in captivity. As suggested by its common name, the male has a largely red bill, but this is lacking in the female.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
