Distribution.--Breeds in North America from central British Columbia, Great Slave 
Lake and Iake Winnipeg south to northern Lower California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska, 
Iowa, and Wisconsin; casually east to Massachusetts and south to Central America. Winters 
on the Pacific coast of California and from the southern limit of breeding range to México 
and the Gulf States; on the Atlantic coast from New York to Florida. 
Gua »-—-Observed only at Lake Atitlaf and near Duefias; however, it 
probably occurs at times on coastal lagoons. 
Recorda.--Lake Atitldén, March 5, 1942, and May 1, 1946. 
In literature it has been recorded from: Duefias and Lake Atitldn (Salvin and 
Godman). e 
Babite and Hunting,--See the general discussion on waterfowl. 
20. Grax rubra rubra Linnaeus 


Central American Curassow 
Other Hames.— 
Guatemalan: pajuil, pavén 
kambul (Mays ) 
English: turkey, pheasant, curassow 
Status.--This curassow is a fairly common resident within ita range except in areas where 
clearing of the forest has reduced or eliminated its habitat, or where intensive hunting 
has depleted its numbers. 
Description.--A large bird about the size of a turkey (length 762.916 mm. for the genus), 
head crested, bill large and heavy, highly arched, 
Adult male.--Bill with a yellow cere, plumage of head, neck, wings, tail, and 
body dark glossy, greenish black except for the lower part of the abdomen, the flanks and 
under tail coverts, which are white; iria red, legs and feet horn color. 
Adult female.-—-Variable in coloration, with at least three color phases 
recognized: . dark phase, red phase, and barred-backed phase, In the first, the feathers 
of the head, neck, and upper two-thirds of the throat blackish banded subterminally with 
white, giving a barred appearance; crest feathers black with a broad white band; back of 
neck, lower throat and upper breast slaty-black with a slight greenish gloss; back and 
rump dark chestnut-brown marked with blackish; wing with the primaries and outer secon- 
daries bright chestnut mottled with black; tail variable in color from black to brown, 
barred with paler on the abdomen, flanks and under tail coverts; bill yellowish, legs and 
feet "pinkish gray." r 
Measurements. -— 
Male (11) Female (7) 
Wing, 365-445 (388) Wing, 355-410 (372.4) 
Tail, 305-362 (331.3) Tail, 315-345 (322) 
Tareus, 113-127 (117.8) Tarsus, 108-117 (112.4) 
Culmen from cere, 27=33.5 (31.5) Culmen from cere, 24-30 (27.2) 
General, Distribution.--Southern Tamaulipas and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec south through- 
out Central America to western Ecuador. 
Distribution in Guatemala.--Tropical Zone forests of both coasts and locally in the 
interior up to elevations of at least 4,000 feet. 
Records.--Tiquisate, April 9-12, 1946. It was reported by local Imnters to be present at: 
San José, in forests to the west; near Champerico and Ixtan; near Sipacate, Escuintla; 
near Cotzal, below Finca San cisco, Bl Quiché; near Panzés. 
: In literature: Uazactin (Van Tyne); Lake. of Petén, Chilomo, Savana Grande, 
Raxché, "Vera Paz" (Salvin and Godman); Los Amates (Dearborn): Santo Tom{s, south of 
Puerto Barrios and Naranjo, Becuintla (Lantz): between Sepacuité and Panzés (Griscom). 
35 
