Curassow, << KYUR uh soh, >> is the name of a group of large birds that live in forests of tropical America. The great curassow is found from Mexico to Ecuador. The male is mostly black with a green or blue sheen to its feathers and looks somewhat like a turkey. The female is usually brown. Like most other curassows, the great curassow has a crest of feathers on top of the head. The crest can be raised forward or lowered. In many males, the bill is brightly colored and has a raised knob on top.
Curassows make nests of twigs and leaves in bushes or trees. The female typically lays two eggs. Curassows feed mainly on nuts and fruits from the forest floor.
Curassows can be tamed, and their flesh is good to eat. These birds are poor flyers and make easy targets for hunters. Hunting of curassows and destruction of their habitat have endangered some species.
