ExploreBirds

Plain Chachalaca

Ortalis vetula

The Plain Chachalaca is a fun bird that loves to make loud sounds! It has a long tail and a brownish body, making it easy to spot in the trees where it lives.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Plain Chachalaca is a medium-sized bird with a slender, chicken-like body and a long tail. It has dull gray-brown plumage, darker on the back and lighter on the belly. Rufous primary feathers are visible in flight. Its small head is grayish, sometimes with subtle pale blue bare skin around the eye.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderGalliformesFamilyCracidaeGenusOrtalis
Plain Chachalaca
feathered trait badgesocial trait badgesinging trait badgearboreal trait badge
Plain Chachalaca

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Chachalacas sleep perched on high tree branches at night.

Sometimes a whole family group helps raise the chicks!

Their unique "cha-cha-lac-a" call often signals dawn!

They lay eggs with a bumpy, rough shell, unlike most birds!

Special abilities

Ability

Voice Amplifier

Plain Chachalaca has extremely powerful vocal cords that allow them to produce loud, raucous calls heard over a kilometer away.

Ability

Forest Acrobat

Plain Chachalacas can gracefully hop and run through dense tree branches because of their strong legs and gripping feet.

Ability

Nature's Gardener

Plain Chachalacas disperse seeds across the forest because they eat many fruits, helping new plants grow.

Measurements & details

Length
48-58 cm
Wingspan
60-65 cm
Weight
0.4-0.8 kg
Lifespan
8-10 years
Top Speed
35 km/h
Clutch Size
2-4
Incubation
22-24 days

Diet & Feeding

This bird mainly enjoys eating fruits, seeds, flowers, and insects it finds in trees and on the ground.

Age differences: Chicks consume more protein-rich insects initially, gradually transitioning to an adult diet.

Primary Foods

  • Berries
  • Figs
  • Seeds
  • Flowers
  • Leaves
  • Insects

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Plain Chachalaca?

48-58 cm

What is Plain Chachalaca's wingspan?

60-65 cm

How much does Plain Chachalaca weigh?

0.4-0.8 kg

How long does Plain Chachalaca live?

8-10 years

How fast can Plain Chachalaca move?

35 km/h

What does Plain Chachalaca eat?

This bird mainly enjoys eating fruits, seeds, flowers, and insects it finds in trees and on the ground.

Where is Plain Chachalaca usually found?

Forests

How does Plain Chachalaca hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

More Birds