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Macho: 34”(86cm), 3kg; Hembra: 25”(64cm), 1.3kg. very large, heavy-bodied, broad –winged. Adult: below dusky-black; above black, strongly glossed with metallic green; conspicuous white upper and lower wing-coverst. Male not only much larger but also has conspicuous crest and extensive bare, black faced with red caruncles. Bill banded with with black whitish; legs black. Immature: browner, less glossy; only a small square of white on upperwing. Habits:
inhabits forested watercourses of all sorts: streams or rivers with gallery forest, wooded swamps, mangroves: often forages in more open areas, including marshes and grainfields; eats mostly seeds, including corn and rice, and tubers occasionally frogs, crabs and insect, outside breeding season usually in groups or flocks; often roosts in trees; flies heavily, with head held high, body low.
STATUS
Widespread but generally uncommon and local resident in lowlands of both slopes; largest concentrations in lower Tempisque basin ( Palo Verde) during dry season.
RANGE
N México to W Colombia, E Perú and N Argentina.
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