Photo: Jelle Oostrom from Netherlands / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Nocturnal Curassow
Nothocrax urumutum
Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax urumutum) — Gamebirds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax urumutum) is a member of the Cracidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Cracidae Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans
- Genus Nothocrax
- Species urumutum
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.7 kg
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Nocturnal Curassow is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Nocturnal Curassow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax urumutum) belongs to the Cracidae family of the order Galliformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA w Amazonia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.7 kg, with a wing length of about 28.1 cm and a tail of around 22.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Nocturnal Curassow?
The Nocturnal Curassow is a very large bird that weighs around 1.7 kg.
Where does the Nocturnal Curassow live?
The Nocturnal Curassow is found across South America with a range covering SA w Amazonia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Nocturnal Curassow belong to?
The Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax urumutum) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Nocturnal Curassow eat?
The Nocturnal Curassow is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Nocturnal Curassow migrate?
The Nocturnal Curassow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Nocturnal Curassow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Nocturnal Curassow make?
1 real field recording of the Nocturnal Curassow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Nocturnal Curassow's range?
The Nocturnal Curassow has a mapped global range of about 2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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