Great Curassow Female – Volcan Arenal, CR

A female Great Curassow walked along the road while driving into Arenal Observatory Lodge. Females are much more colorful than the males, with chestnut plumage, a boldly barred tail, and a black-and-white curled crest. Male Great Curassow’s are glossy black with a white belly and a bright yellow knob at the base of the bill. You can also find Great Curassows in several in protected forest parks south of San José. Places to visit are Carara National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Los Quetzales National Park, and Corcovado National Park. This is where intact rainforest provides the large fruiting trees they depend on. Encountering this Vulnerable species strolling the lodge road is a reminder of how important Costa Rica’s protected forests have been in helping the Great Curassow recover in many parts of its range.