Helmeted curassow
Pauxi pauxi
The helmeted curassow can be easily recognized by its characteristic bluish horn attachment above the red beak. This horn attachment, like the beak, is made of keratin. The plumage of the species is predominantly black, with the belly region colored white. However, females can also have a brownish coloration. Males are particularly audible during the mating season. Their greatly elongated trachea acts as a resonator and amplifies the calls so that they can be heard over long distances.
The helmeted curassow is one of the three species of paucock (genus Pauxi) and inhabits cloud and rainforests in Colombia and Venezuela. These birds spend most of their time in the trees, but forage on the ground, where they look for seeds, fruits and grasses.
The species is highly endangered as its habitat is becoming increasingly fragmented. This is due to deforestation, which leads to the destruction of the rainforests. In addition, the helmeted curassow is hunted for its meat. Another factor contributing to the decimation of the population is the mistaken belief that the horned top has aphrodisiac properties.
| Classification | Galliformes, cockerels (Cracidae), pauxi (3 species) |
| Habitat | cool secondary forest up to 2000 m above sea level and tropical rainforest |
| Behaviour | diurnal |
| Social structure | Pairs that form temporary groups |
| Diet | Früchte, Samen, Blätter und Gräser |
| Weight | 3,5 - 3,75 kg |
| Head-torso length | 50 - 65 cm |
| Tail length | 32 - 36 cm |
| Clutch | 2 eggs |
| Incubation period | 30 - 34 days |
| Life expectancy | unknown |
| Use | Hunting for their meat and their “helmet” (mistakenly considered an aphrodisiac) |
| Actual stock | decreasing, 3500 - 12'500 adults |
| At Zurich Zoo since | 2024 |
Distribution
Conservation status
