Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans

The Cracidae family, consisting of chachalacas, guans, and curassows, is a group of large birds resembling turkeys found in tropical and subtropical Central and South America, with one species reaching Texas and others on Trinidad and Tobago. These ancient birds, related to Australasian mound-builders, form distinct clades and originate from a lineage that dates back to the Late Cretaceous. They exhibit variation in size from the little chachalaca to the great curassow and are known for their vocal nature, particularly the chachalacas named after their calls. Cracids primarily live in trees with the exception of the more terrestrial chachalacas and have a diet consisting of fruit, insects, and worms. They nest in trees, laying two to three large white eggs, which the female incubates. The precocial young are agile and able to fly shortly after hatching, instinctively climbing to safety in the nesting tree. The evolution and speciation of these birds have been shaped by geographical changes such as the uplift of the Andes, with the distribution of species often following river systems. However, due to scarce fossil records, many aspects of their systematics and historical biogeography remain hypothetical.