If you hear a sound in the South American aviary that reminds you of a dying electronic device, chances are a bare-faced curassow is nearby. This bird has an unusually mechanical-sounding call — and it can be surprisingly loud!
The curassow is a member of the guan and pheasant family, and it can grow up to 90 cm tall. Birds of that size usually live on the ground, but the curassow also spends time in trees, where it builds its nest. It typically forages for food on the forest floor or along the forest edge.
In parts of Central South America, the curassow is hunted by local communities. Combined with deforestation, this has led to its classification as a vulnerable species.