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.
They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colourful facial ornaments.
The birds in this family are particularly vocal, with the chachalacas taking their name from the sound of their call.
Cracids range in size from the little chachalaca (Ortalis motmot), at as little as 38 cm (15 in) and 350 g (12 oz), to the great curassow (Crax rubra), at nearly 1 m (39 in) and 4.3 kg (9.5 lb).
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. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colourful facial ornaments. The birds in this family are particularly vocal, with the chachalacas taking their name from the sound of their call. Cracids range in size from the little chachalaca (Ortalis motmot), at as little as 38 cm (15 in) and 350 g (12 oz), to the great curassow (Crax rubra), at nearly 1 m (39 in) and 4.3 kg (9.5 lb).
Cracidae