(Northern) Helmeted Curassow

Pauxi pauxi

Northern Helmeted Curassow Helmeted Curassow
The (Northern) Helmeted Curassow is a medium-large bird with predominantly glossy black plumage with greenish metallic sheen, white tail border, red bill and a strange blue-grey egg-like dome on its head which gives it the "helmeted" name. It comes from western Venezuela and northern Colombia. The curassow which had previously been thought to be a southern sub-species has now been moved to a full species (the Horned Curassow, Pauxi unicornis) so the "Northern" is now generally dropped from the Helmeted Curassow's name. Male and female have similar appearance.
Northern Helmeted Curassow Helmeted Curassow
A rufous morph appears occasionally among females of the species, showing dark barring on the chicken red wings and back while retaining the black head with bluish casque.
Northern Helmeted Curassow Helmeted Curassow
There are two regional sub-species.
Northern Helmeted Curassow Helmeted Curassows
 

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Bare-faced Curassow male
Barefaced Curassow
Great Curassow
Great Curassow
Nocturnal Curassow
Nocturnal Curassow