Bare-faced Curassow

Exhibiting a highly pronounced sexual dimorphism, this large and robust terrestrial bird measures between 85 and 97 centimeters in length and weighs from 2.7 to 4.8 kilograms. The adult male possesses a striking, mostly glossy black plumage with a blue-green sheen, complemented by a highly distinctive crest of curled feathers on its crown. It features a bright yellow to orange-yellow cere and bare facial skin around the eyes, contrasting sharply with its clean white belly and undertail coverts. Conversely, the female displays a highly cryptic and variable plumage characterized by dense black and white barring on the upperparts, breast, and tail, a black-and-white barred crest, and a warm buff to cinnamon abdomen, lacking the conspicuous yellow facial wattles of the male.

Geographical distribution: This species is widely distributed across the central-eastern regions of South America. Its range encompasses central, southern, and eastern Brazil (predominantly south of the Amazon River), eastern Bolivia, paratropic zones of Paraguay, and extending south into northern Argentina within the provinces of Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, and Misiones.

Habitat: It primarily populates gallery forests, semi-deciduous woodlands, riverine thickets, and seasonally flooded savannas, such as the Pantanal and the dry woodland patches of the Cerrado. It exhibits a strong preference for forest edges and well-developed understory vegetation near permanent water sources, generally avoiding deep, uninterrupted humid rainforest interiors.

Feeding: Primarily frugivorous and opportunistic, its diet consists of a wide variety of fallen fruits, seeds, flowers, buds, and young leaves gathered directly from the forest floor. To supplement its nutritional needs, it also consumes small invertebrates including beetles, caterpillars, and snails, as well as occasional small vertebrates, playing a crucial role as a seed disperser for many tropical tree species.

Behavior: Mostly terrestrial and active during the day, it walks gracefully through the leaf litter but is an adept flyer, readily retreating to the mid-story or canopy when threatened or to roost at night. It is typically observed singly, in pairs, or in small family cohorts. During the breeding season, males establish territories and advertise their presence by emitting a deep, booming, low-frequency vocal resonance, which can carry for hundreds of meters through the forest.

Nesting: Monogamous pairs initiate their breeding cycle coinciding with the onset of the wet season. The nest is a relatively small, flat platform constructed of dry twigs, vines, and green leaves, concealed within the fork of a tree or dense vine tangle at heights ranging from 2 to 5 meters above the ground. The female typically lays a clutch of 2 large, chalky white eggs with thick, rough shells. Incubation is performed solely by the female and lasts approximately 28 to 30 days, while the male remains nearby to defend the nesting territory. The precocial chicks leave the nest shortly after hatching, staying close to their parents who guide them to feeding spots.

Conservation status: Classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces severe threats throughout its range. The primary drivers of its population decline are habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agricultural expansion and cattle ranching, compounded by intense hunting pressure for food and sport, which has extirpated localized populations across its historical range.