Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows Cracidae
There are 11 genera in the Cracidae family. Of the 50 recognized species, almost half are threatened with extinction. One species, the recently rediscovered Alagoas Curassow Mitu mitu of northeast Brazil, may already be extinct in the wild. The only known population exists in a small private collection. Many cracids suffer from over-hunting. Rapid deforestation is also another reason for their serious decline. These large gallinaceous birds are restricted to the New World, ranging from southern Texas, south to South America.

Ortalis
There are 12 species in this genus. The Rufous-headed Chachalaca Ortalis erythroptera is considered vulnerable and the Buff-browed Chachalaca Ortalis superciliaris is considered near-threatened.

Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula at the Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, near McAllen, Texas, February 2005.

Rufous-vented Chachalaca Ortalis ruficauda near Speyside, Tobago, February 2008.

Penelope

There are 15 species in this genus. The White-winged Guan Penelope albipennis is critically endangered. The Baudo Guan Penelope ortoni and Cauca Guan Penelope perspicax are endangered. The White-crested Guan Penelope pileata is near-threatened and 3 other species are vulnerable.

Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens at the Wilson botanical garden, near San Vito, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, April 2008.




Pipile

There are 4 species in this genus. The Black-fronted Piping-Guan Pipile jacutinga is endangered and the following species is considered critically endangered.

With a total world population of between 70 and 200 individuals, the Trinidad Piping-Guan Pipile pipile is restricted to a small range on the island of Trinidad. Illegal hunting and habitat destruction are the two main reasons for the decline of this large gallinaceous bird, which is known locally as the "pawi". I photographed this adult above the Asa Wright Nature Center, Trinidad, January 2008.



Chamaepetes

There are 2 species in this genus.

The Black Guan Chamaepetes unicolor is considered near-threatened. They are restricted to mountain cloud forests of Costa Rica and Panama. This species is much hunted for food, especially in Panama, where it is now scarce and local. I photographed this adult at Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, June 2007.





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