Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax urumutum)

Identification & Behavior: ~68.5 cm (27 in). The Nocturnal Curassow has a brown back and orange-rufous neck and underparts. Sexes are alike. They have a dark erectile crest, short red bill and yellow and blue bare skin around the eyes and face area.  Their legs are short and red. They are rather shy and seldom seen. Groups of three to five birds are thought to hide in large holes in trunks or thick foliage during most of the day and come out at dusk to feed. Many aspects of their natural history are poorly known.

Status: The Nocturnal Curassow is restricted to lowland Amazonian forest on the north side of the Amazon and Marañon Rivers. They are Known to range to elevations of about 600 m along the foothill of the Andes. They are shy and rare revealing their presence through night vocalizations from roosting sites.

Name in Spanish: Paujil Nocturno.

Sub-species: Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax urumutum) Spix, 1825.

Meaning of Name: Nothocrax: Gr. nöthës, nötheuö= slow, lazy; and crax = related to the genus Crax. urumutum: Tupi (Native Brazilian) a curassow known for its hooting noise.

See more of the Family Cracidae