Cracids
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Aburria
Chamaepetes
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Aburria
Chamaepetes
Penelopina
Oreophasis
Guans
Pipile
Piping-Guans
Nothcrax
Mitu
Pauxi
Crax
Curassows
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Cracids
Latin America is home to a unique family of aboreal galliformes, Cracidae. The family consists of 50 species in 11 genera found from southern Texas to Argentina. Commonly known simply as Cracids, very few species are well established in aviculture and many more are threatened with extinction in the wild.
Genus Ortalis
Twelve species
- Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)
- Chestnut-winged Chachalaca (O. garrula )
- Grey-headed Chachalaca (O. cinereiceps)
- West Mexican Chachalaca (O. poliocephala)
- Wagler's Chachalaca (O. wagleri)
- Rufous-vented Chachalaca (O. ruficauda)
- White-bellied Chachalaca (O. leucogastra)
- Rufous-headed Chachalaca (O. erythroptera )
- Chaco Chachalaca (O. canicollis )
- Speckled Chachalaca (O. guttata )
- Buff-browed Chachalaca (O. superciliaris)
- Little Chachalaca (O. motmot)
Genus Penelope
Fifteen species
- Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens)
- Cauca Guan (P. perspicax)
- White-winged Guan (P. albipennis)
- Spix's Guan (P. jacquacu)
- Marail Guan (P. marail)
- Baudo Guan (P. ortoni)
- Chestnut-bellied Guan (P. ochrogaster)
- White-crested Guan (P. pileata)
- Red-faced Guan (P. dabbenei)
- White-browed Guan (P. jacucaca)
- Rusty-margined Guan (P. superciliaris)
- Dusky-legged Guan (P. obscura)
- Band-tailed Guan (P. argyrotis)
- Andean Guan (P. montagnii)
- Bearded Guan (P. barbata)
Genus Aburria
One species
- Wattled Guan (Aburria aburri)
Genus Chamaepetes
One Species
- Sickle-winged Guan (Chamaepetes goudotii)
Genus Penelopina
One Species
- Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra)
Genus Oreophasis
One Species
Genus Pipile
Four species:
- Trinidad Piping-Guan (Pipile pipile)
- Blue-throated Piping-Guan (P. cumanensis)
- Red-throated Piping-Guan (P. cujubi)
- Black-fronted Piping-Guan (P. jacutinga)
Genus Nothocrax
One Species
- Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax urumutum )
Genus Mitu
Four species
- Alagoas Curassow (Mitu mitu)
- Razor-billed Curassow (M. tuberosa)
- Salvin's Curassow (M. salvini)
- Crestless Curassow (M. tomentosa)
Genus Pauxi
Two Species
- Northern Helmeted Curassow (Pauxi pauxi)
- Horned Curassow (Pauxi unicornis)
Genus Crax
Seven Species
- Great Curassow (Crax rubra)
- Blue-billed Curassow (C. alberti)
- Black Curassow (C. alector)
- Yellow-knobbed Curassow (C. daubentoni)
- Bare-faced Curassow (C. fasciolata)
- Wattled Curassow (C. globulosa)
- Red-billed Curassow (C. blumenbachii)
Acknowledgements & Credits
I want to give special thanks to the following indviduals for the help with photographs and information for the Francolin & Partridge section at gbwf.org. Your contributions are very much appreciated!
- Jan Harteman
- Roman Kmicikewycz
- Myles Lamont
- Lynn Swafford
- Sara Whitby
Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT A CATALOG OR PRICE LIST. Any requests for Cracids or help in locating a source for sale will go unanswered, check out the gbwf.org forums for possible surplus. Again, this site is not a catalog or price list!!!!
Information found on the species accounts/fact sheets have come from personal experience, personal communications, publications and books. The information found within is designed as an introduction to game bird aviculture. I cannot guarantee what has worked for one will work for another. These birds can be unpredictable, and we learn something new from them every day. Those interested in this hobby for the first time should check with their local conservation departments for permit information before purchasing birds. Remember, game birds are living creatures, not show pieces or ornaments. We encourage all interested in this hobby to provide optimal care for their birds. Beginners to this hobby should learn as much as they can from other keepers, books and publications before purchasing birds. Many forums are available through the internet, and many keepers will be happy to share their personal experiences about a particular species. If you cannot properly house or care for these birds, DO NOT buy any. We do not encourage hybridization of any pure species or subspecies of wildlife. Responsible animal ownership is the goal and education is the key. The webmaster of this site does not offer any birds for sale. gbwf.org will always be a work in progress, with new information added often. Advertisement opportunities are available, please e-mail for more information. Adobe reader will be required for viewing some of the content on gbwf.org. gbwf.org best viewed using Internet Explorer 7.
