The Alagoas curassow (Mitu mitu) is a pheasant-like bird that was formerly found in forests of Brazil. It is now extinct in the wild. German naturalist Georg Marcgrave first identified the Alagoas curassow in 1648 in its native range. Subsequently, the origin and legitimacy of the bird began to be questioned due to the lack of specimens. An adult female curassow was rediscovered in 1951, in the coastal forests of Alagoas and the Alagoas curassow was then accepted as a separate species (Silveira). At that time fewer than 60 birds were left in the wild, in the forests around São Miguel dos Campos (the Brazilian state of Alagoas).
Alagoas curassows have black and glossy feathers, with a blue-purple hue. They also have a large, bright red beak, flattened at its sides, with a white tip. The same red coloration is found on their legs and feet. The tips of the tail feathers are light brown in color, with chestnut-colored feathers under the tail. The birds have a unique grey-colored, crescent-shaped patch of bare skin covering their ears, a character not found in other curassows. Females tend to be lighter in color and slightly smaller in size.
Alagoas curassows once lived in the moist lowland primary forest of Alagoas and Pernambuco states, Northeastern Brazil. Presently, these birds are maintained and bred in two privately owned professional aviaries in Brazil.
Due to their absence in the wild and the lack of study previously conducted on these Alagoas curassows before their extinction in the wild, not much is known about their behavior. Video recording in captivity show that they sporadically make a high-pitched chirping sound.
Alagoas curassows are known to consume fruits and nuts. It has also been said that they enjoy fruits from the plant Clarisia racemosa.
In captivity, female Alagoas curassows start to breed at about 2 years of age and lay 2-3 eggs each year.
Alagoas curassows became extinct in the wild due to deforestation and hunting. The last wild bird was seen and killed in 1984, or possibly 1987 or 1988. Several authors in the 1970s brought to light the growing destruction of the birds’ habitat and their rarity. Even with these concerns, the last large forest remnants which contained native Alagoas curassows were demolished for sugarcane agriculture. The captive population has been extensively hybridized with the Razor-billed curassow, and there are only several dozen purebred birds left.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Alagoas curassows is over 100 purebred individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Extinct In The Wild (EW) on the IUCN Red List.
