The Great Curassow is distributed in Central America from southern Mexico to Panama and into western Colombia and western Ecuador. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. The species is classed as Vulnerable due to hunting pressure and habitat loss.

It is the largest Curassow and the male is black with a white crissum, a prominent yellow knob on its bill and a large frilly crest. There are three different morphs of females. This female is the dark morph. There are also a red morph and a barred morph both of which have barred tails.

This female was seen flying over the estuary of the river Cuero and into the mangroves on the far bank. We could not find it after it had landed.