Cracidae

bird family

Also known as: curassow family

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Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The Cracidae family, also known as curassows, guans, and chachalacas, are tropical American birds belonging to the order Galliformes. These game birds are known for their delicious flesh.12

Curassows are the largest members of the family, with some species reaching nearly 40 inches in length. Males are typically glossy black with a curled crest and a brightly colored bill ornament, while females are smaller and brownish without the ornament.1

Chachalacas are the smallest and least arboreal members, characterized by their noisy calls at dawn and dusk. Guans are lighter and slightly smaller than curassows, known for their gregarious nature and nocturnal cries.1

Several species within the Cracidae family are endangered, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.1

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galliform
Annotated classification
Family Cracidae (chachalacas, guans, and curassows)Tail moderately long and broad. Plumage black or brown, duller in female. Most species with bare skin between eyes and beak (lores), some with fleshy wattles or other ornaments on face or crown. Medium to large; length 52–99 cm (20–39…
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Family Cracidae (chachalacas, guans, and curassows)Tail moderately long and broad. Plumage black or brown, duller in female. Most species with bare skin between eyes and beak (lores), some with fleshy wattles or other ornaments on face or crown. Medium to large; length 52–99 cm (20–39…
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curassow
…American birds of the family Cracidae (order Galliformes). Strictly, it refers to 7–12 species in which the male is glossy black (often with a white belly) and has a curled crest of feathers and a brightly coloured bill ornament; the female, lacking the ornament, is smaller and brownish. Curassows are…
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…American birds of the family Cracidae (order Galliformes). Strictly, it refers to 7–12 species in which the male is glossy black (often with a white belly) and has a curled crest of feathers and a brightly coloured bill ornament; the female, lacking the ornament, is smaller and brownish. Curassows are…
Read More