Megapodes, Guans, and Currasows in North American Zoos

birdsandbats

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Here I have attempted to make a complete list of Megapodes and Cracids present in American and Canadian collections. Only information 2018 or newer was used. Information on missing holders or species, as well as information on subspecies or populations is welcomed.

Australian Brush-Turkey (2 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo

Maleo (4 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
San Diego Zoo
Tulsa Zoo

Tongan Megapode (1 holder)
San Diego Zoo

Wattled Guan (1 holder)
Dallas World Aquarium

Blue-throated Piping-Guan (9 holders)
Busch Gardens Tampa
Fort Worth Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Miller Park Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Toronto Zoo

Spix's Guan (1 holder)
San Francisco Zoo (0.1)

Crested Guan (1 holder)
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo

Plain Chachalaca (2 holders)
Fort Worth Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo

Chaco Chachalaca (3 holders)
Bird Kingdom Niagara
Tracy Aviary
Woodland Park Zoo

Horned Guan (2 holders)
Dallas World Aquarium
Saint Louis Zoo

Nocturnal Curassow (1 holder)
Dallas World Aquarium

Helmeted Curassow (20 holders)
Aggieland Safari (pauxi)
Albuquerque Biodome (pauxi)
Busch Gardens Tampa (pauxi)
Capital of Texas Zoo (pauxi)
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (pauxi)
Dallas World Aquarium (pauxi)
Denver Zoo (pauxi)
Fresno Chaffee Zoo (pauxi)
Greenville Zoo (pauxi)
Henry Vilas Zoo (pauxi) (0.2)
Lincoln Park Zoo (pauxi)
Montreal Biodome (pauxi)
Roger Williams Park Zoo (pauxi)
Saint Louis Zoo (pauxi)
San Antonio Zoo (pauxi)
San Diego Zoo (pauxi)
Sylvan Heights Bird Park (pauxi)
Tracy Aviary (pauxi)
White Oak Conservation Center (pauxi)
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium (pauxi)
Zoo Miami (pauxi)

Great Curassow (12 holders)
Aggieland Safari
Capital of Texas Zoo
Charles Paddock Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Lupa Zoo
Oakland Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Blue-billed Curassow (16 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Houston Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Nashville Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens
Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
San Diego Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo
White Oak Conservation Center
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo Miami

Yellow-knobbed Curassow (5 holders)
Houston Zoo
Micke Grove Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Reid Park Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Wattled Curassow (12 holders)
Audubon Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Caldwell Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Houston Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
National Aviary
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Staten Island Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
White Oak Conservation Center

Bare-faced Curassow (1 holder)
Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Black Curassow (2 holders)
Hattiesburg Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
 
Last edited:
Houston Zoo also has Maleo. Where did you see that Columbus holds them? I can't find any references to that on this site or elsewhere online.

Bronx has Helmeted Curassow (pauxi).

Confirmed through social media post that Smithsonian still holds Blue-billed Curassow; not sure if that's at the zoo or SCBI. Either way not on exhibit. Source is here: Security Check Required

Albuquerque Biodome (pauxi)

Biopark, not Biodome :)

Montreal Biodome (pauxi)

Hasn't the Biodome been closed? How do we know what species are in there?

Denver Zoo (pauxi)

Possibly questionable since World of Birds is closed?
 
Hasn't the Biodome been closed? How do we know what species are in there?



Possibly questionable since World of Birds is closed?
I knew that both of these were closed but entirely forgot while researching for this thread. :p I'll remove after the next update unless anyone can confirm.

Houston Zoo also has Maleo. Where did you see that Columbus holds them? I can't find any references to that on this site or elsewhere online.
Mentioned as behind-the-scenes by @jayjds2 here.
 
I Apologize for bumping this thread, but I have some additional holders.

Safari North Wildlife Park has Helmeted & Greater Curassows

Hemker Park & Zoo has Helmeted & Greater Curassows
 
Here I have attempted to make a complete list of Megapodes and Cracids present in American and Canadian collections. Only information 2018 or newer was used. Information on missing holders or species, as well as information on subspecies or populations is welcomed.

Australian Brush-Turkey (2 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo

Maleo (4 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
San Diego Zoo
Tulsa Zoo

Tongan Megapode (1 holder)
San Diego Zoo

Wattled Guan (1 holder)
Dallas World Aquarium

Blue-throated Piping-Guan (9 holders)
Busch Gardens Tampa
Fort Worth Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Miller Park Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Toronto Zoo

Spix's Guan (1 holder)
San Francisco Zoo (0.1)

Crested Guan (1 holder)
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo

Plain Chachalaca (2 holders)
Fort Worth Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo

Chaco Chachalaca (3 holders)
Bird Kingdom Niagara
Tracy Aviary
Woodland Park Zoo

Horned Guan (2 holders)
Dallas World Aquarium
Saint Louis Zoo

Nocturnal Curassow (1 holder)
Dallas World Aquarium

Helmeted Curassow (20 holders)
Aggieland Safari (pauxi)
Albuquerque Biodome (pauxi)
Busch Gardens Tampa (pauxi)
Capital of Texas Zoo (pauxi)
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (pauxi)
Dallas World Aquarium (pauxi)
Denver Zoo (pauxi)
Fresno Chaffee Zoo (pauxi)
Greenville Zoo (pauxi)
Henry Vilas Zoo (pauxi) (0.2)
Lincoln Park Zoo (pauxi)
Montreal Biodome (pauxi)
Roger Williams Park Zoo (pauxi)
Saint Louis Zoo (pauxi)
San Antonio Zoo (pauxi)
San Diego Zoo (pauxi)
Sylvan Heights Bird Park (pauxi)
Tracy Aviary (pauxi)
White Oak Conservation Center (pauxi)
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium (pauxi)
Zoo Miami (pauxi)

Great Curassow (12 holders)
Aggieland Safari
Capital of Texas Zoo
Charles Paddock Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Lupa Zoo
Oakland Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Blue-billed Curassow (16 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Houston Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Nashville Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens
Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
San Diego Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo
White Oak Conservation Center
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo Miami

Yellow-knobbed Curassow (5 holders)
Houston Zoo
Micke Grove Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Reid Park Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Wattled Curassow (12 holders)
Audubon Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Caldwell Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Houston Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
National Aviary
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Staten Island Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
White Oak Conservation Center

Bare-faced Curassow (1 holder)
Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Black Curassow (2 holders)
Hattiesburg Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Bronx Zoo no longer keeps Australian Brush-Turkey.
Philadelphia Zoo no longer keeps Blue-throated Piping-Guan.
Bronx Zoo should have Plain Chachalaca.
 
Update (7/5/22):

Australian Brush-Turkey (2 holders)
Fort Worth Zoo
Kansas City Zoo

Maleo (5 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Houston Zoo
Nashville Zoo
San Diego Zoo
Tulsa Zoo

Tongan Megapode (1 holder)
San Diego Zoo

Wattled Guan (1 holder)
Dallas World Aquarium

Blue-throated Piping-Guan (9 holders)
Busch Gardens Tampa
Fort Worth Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Miller Park Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Toronto Zoo

Spix's Guan (1 holder)
San Francisco Zoo (0.1)

Crested Guan (1 holder)
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo

Plain Chachalaca (3 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo

Chaco Chachalaca (3 holders)
Bird Kingdom Niagara
Tracy Aviary
Woodland Park Zoo

Horned Guan (2 holders)
Dallas World Aquarium
Saint Louis Zoo

Nocturnal Curassow (1 holder)
Dallas World Aquarium

Helmeted Curassow (26 holders)
Aggieland Safari (pauxi)
Albuquerque BioPark (pauxi)
Berkshire Bird Paradise
Bronx Zoo (pauxi)
Brookfield Zoo (pauxi)
Busch Gardens Tampa (pauxi)
Capital of Texas Zoo (pauxi)
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (pauxi)
Dallas World Aquarium (pauxi)
Denver Zoo (pauxi)
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo (pauxi)
Greenville Zoo (pauxi)
Hemker Park Zoo
Henry Vilas Zoo (pauxi) (0.2)
Lincoln Park Zoo (pauxi)
Milwaukee County Zoo (pauxi)
Roger Williams Park Zoo (pauxi)
Safari North Wildlife Park
Saint Louis Zoo (pauxi)
San Antonio Zoo (pauxi)
San Diego Zoo (pauxi)
Sylvan Heights Bird Park (pauxi)
Tracy Aviary (pauxi)
White Oak Conservation Center (pauxi)
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium (pauxi)
Zoo Miami (pauxi)

Great Curassow (16 holders)
Aggieland Safari
Berkshire Bird Paradise
Capital of Texas Zoo
Charles Paddock Zoo
Everglades Wonder Gardens
Gladys Porter Zoo
Hemker Park Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Lupa Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Safari North Wildlife Park
San Francisco Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Timbavati Wildlife Park
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Blue-billed Curassow (16 holders)
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Houston Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Nashville Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens
Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
San Diego Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
Smithsonian National Zoo
White Oak Conservation Center
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo Miami

Yellow-knobbed Curassow (5 holders)
Houston Zoo
Micke Grove Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Reid Park Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Wattled Curassow (11 holders)
Audubon Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Caldwell Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Houston Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
National Aviary
Staten Island Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
White Oak Conservation Center

Bare-faced Curassow (1 holder)
Sylvan Heights Bird Park

Black Curassow (2 holders)
Hattiesburg Zoo
Sylvan Heights Bird Park
 
Kansas City Zoo has brush turkey? Is this a recent development? I haven't been since last year, but there certainly weren't any then.
 
Kansas City Zoo has brush turkey? Is this a recent development? I haven't been since last year, but there certainly weren't any then.
If they haven't been there recently then they should probably be removed in the next update. They absolutely have been kept by the zoo in past.
 
If they haven't been there recently then they should probably be removed in the next update. They absolutely have been kept by the zoo in past.

I was able to find a photo dated December 2007, so yes, they were there in the past, but haven't been any time I've been there.
 
Are they open to the public? I'm only counting facilities open to the public on these lists.
They are not currently. They have been working on trying to establish a system for guided tours; however, there have been bumps on the road due to the land being owned by the Coast Guard, but it is a goal to eventually be more accessible. They do offer tours for local schools, universities, and volunteer groups. They have had quite a few chicks over the past couple of years, though, so it is a notable facility for the species in North America, and some of the animals have been selected for reintroduction in Columbia.
 
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