Wednesday, 24 December 2025

Great Curassow (Crax rubra)


OTHER NAMES:
N/A
Latin Etymology: Crax ("head") rubra ("red")

 

Female Great Curassow (Crax rubra) at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Crax rubra rubra
Weight: 3.1-4.8kg  /  Length: 78-100cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The heaviest and most Northerly of the currasows, they primarily feed by taking windfall fruit from the forest floor. They are a monogamous species which can live over 20 years in the wild althoguh are slow to reproduce. They can have a somewhat aggressive temprament, even having been known to attack humans, in which instance they target the eyes. These birds I saw had moved into the environs of Rescarte Wildlife Rescue Centre, seemingly lured by the prospect of easy food, if somewhat baffled by their counterparts in cages. 

Related Species: 
Order: Galliformes
Family: Cracidae
Genus: Crax
SUBSPECIES: C. r. rubra, C. r. griscomi
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Paujil
A widespread but scarce resident of lowland forest
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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