What is a Cracid?
Cracids are a family of gamebirds (Cracidae), found predominantly throughout the Latin American tropics. The northern most species gets into the extreme southern portion of Texas, and the southern most species ranges as far south as the Plate River Basin in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina!

Sizes range from small pheasant to a large turkey. Their larger size compared to most species of birds makes them an ideal protein source for people living in the same region. However; unfortunately, they are not always harvested sustainably (i.e., Severely overhunted in many regions), and consequently their populations are plummeting rapidly throughout their range. The other factor that threatens Cracids is depletion of their natural forest habitat. Although some species can tolerate moderate forest alteration, most species disappear when their natural habitat is destroyed.

Chachalacas
The smallest members of the Family Cracidae. There are a dozen species, all in the genus Ortalis. In contrast to Guans and Curassows, Chachalacas can withstand habitat modification to some extent, as long as some forest and trees are still remaining.

Guans
The medium-sized members of the Family Cracidae. The most diverse of the Cracids, comprising 24 species: 15 True Guans (Penelope), 5 Piping Guan and Wattled Guans (Aburria), 2 Sickle-winged Guans (Chamaepetes), and 2 monotypic taxa: Horned Guan (Oreophasis) and Highland Guan (Penelopina).

Curassows
The largest members of the Family Cracidae. There are 14 species: 7 True Curassows (Crax), 4 Razor-billed Curassows (Mitu), 2 Helmeted Curassows (Pauxi) and the monotypic Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax).