It is found in humid forests in northern South America in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas including Suriname, and far northern Brazil, and is introduced to Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Lesser Antilles.

There are two recognized subspecies: The black curassow is a large bird reaching about 900 millimetres (35 in) in length.

It mostly eats fruit, but also consumes buds, shoots, leaves, flowers, fungi and invertebrates.

Breeding takes place in the rainy season in Suriname while in French Guiana, young are reported in March and September.

Although the black curassow is fairly common, populations have been declining because of habitat loss, trapping and hunting.