The chachalacas, guans, and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae. These are species of tropical and subtropical Central and South America. The range of one species, the plain chachalaca, just reaches southernmost parts of Texas in the United States.

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.

…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.

Cracids are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. Many species are fairly long tailed, which may be an aide to navigating their largely arboreal existence.

Cracids are a primitive, ancestral family of gamebirds (Galliformes), probably originating in Central America and southern North America. The earliest known cracid is recognized by a fossil approximately 50 million years old, found in Wyoming.

The Cracidae – Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows The Cracidae or cracids are a bird family group of ancient origin going back perhaps some 50 million years and currently inhabiting parts of South and Central America.

Cracidae is a family in the Galliformes order. Cracidae contains 11 genera.[1] Subfamily Cracinae Genus Crax Genus Mitu Genus Nothocrax Genus Pauxi Subfamily Penelopinae Genus Aburria Genus...

Male curassows of many species have a fleshy knob on the root of the beak or brightly colored areas of naked skin on the head. These birds are found in south Texas through tropical South America as far as central Argentina.

Browse North American birds in taxonomic order—by order and family, with quick access to each bird’s photos and sounds.

The chachalacas, guans and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae. These are species of tropical and subtropical Central and South America. One species, the plain chachalaca, just reaches southernmost Texas in the USA.