Plain Chachalaca
A species of Chachalacas Scientific name : Ortalis vetula Genus : Chachalacas
Plain Chachalaca, A species of Chachalacas
Botanical name: Ortalis vetula
Genus: Chachalacas
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Description People often ask General Info
Description
The plain chachalaca is a medium-sized galliform, around the size of a common pheasant. It measures 48–58 cm (19–23 in) in length, and varies in weight from 468–794 g (16.5–28.0 oz) for males and 439–707 g (15.5–24.9 oz)in females Males are on average larger but because of overlap that isn't diagnostic of sex, and in appreance they are the same. It is long-necked with a small head and bare throat patch which becomes deep red in both sexes during the breeding season. Adults have a greyish head and neck with a dull olive-brown body and wings. The underbelly is pale to ochraceous and the tail is blackish with green gloss and buffy-white tip. The iris is brown and bill is black; orbital skin and the feet are dull grey. 
Size
56 cm (22 in)
Colors
Black
Green
Bronze
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
8.8 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
2 - 4 eggs
Feeding Habits
Plain Chachalaca's diet principally comprises fruit, plant material, and invertebrates, such as insects, caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and snails. They forage predominantly in trees, employing their robust feet and elongated necks to navigate thin branches and access food. Typically feeding in family groups, they also feed on the ground, including at bird feeders, and ingest grit for digestion and mineral intake. Their diet includes a variety of plant species and they may raid human crops.
Habitat
Plain Chachalaca thrives in subtropical environments up to 1,850 meters altitude, preferring habitats with dense vegetation, such as thorn forests and riparian woodlands. Adaptability allows for residence in secondary and riverine forests, as well as human-modified landscapes like orchards and suburban areas. Plain Chachalaca's habitat range includes arid and coastal regions, illustrating versatility in ecosystem occupancy.
Nest Behavior
Both male and female plain Chachalaca contribute to the nest construction, sometimes repurposing old nests from other bird species. Following the preparation of the nest, egg-laying and parental care ensue with both parents being actively involved.
Nest Characteristics
Plain Chachalaca typically places its nest in tree forks, large shrubs, or vine tangles, often near water sources, at heights of 5–35 feet. Using materials like twigs, leaves, vines, and Spanish moss, they create a nest that resembles a messy squirrel nest, averaging about 8.5 inches in diameter.
Dite type
Frugivorous
People often ask
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Fruit
Bird Feeder Type
Platform
Sounds
Call
Recording location: Mexico
Call
Recording location: Mexico
Call
Recording location: Mexico
Behavior
Plain Chachalaca's exhibit gregarious behavior, often residing in family units that combine experienced adults with their young. These avian families are known for their noisy morning calls, which serve as a signal for nearby groups to engage in responsive choruses. When spring arrives, signaling the breeding period, pairs engage in bonding rituals like mutual preening, and males may even offer fruits to females as gifts. Also notable is the aggressive territorial behavior males display toward rivals and predators during incubation, where they won't shy away from physical confrontations, using their feet and beaks as weapons. Plain Chachalaca's are likely monogamous, with offspring sticking close to their parents well into their first year. These birds are also known to collectively mob predators, a unique defense strategy. Outside of nesting season, these family units can merge, forming larger congregations.
Distribution Area
The plain chachalaca is found from Texas, in the Lower Rio Grande, through the eastern coast of Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, Belize, northern Guatemala, northern Honduras and just into the north central part of Nicaragua, with a small population on the Nicoya Peninsula of northern Costa Rica. The species has also been introduced and established to San Patricio County in Texas and three islands, Sapelo, Blackbeard and Little St. Simons Island, on the coast of Georgia. The plain chachalaca occupies a wide range of habitats, including primary forest, secondary forest, forest edge and riverine forest, thorny bush-scrub, and shrubland. It is also found in human modified habitats such as orchards, suburban parks and gardens and croplands. Unlike other cracids, it is able to adapt to the scrubland that arises after the clearing of tropical rainforest. It can be found from sea-level to 1,850 m (6,070 ft)
Species Status
Hunting of the plain chachalaca is restricted to subsistence hunting, for example by the Mayan people in southern Mexico. The plain chachalaca population is 500,000–5,000,000 (2006 IUCN Red List). It is not threatened. However the subspecies from Útila Island, O. v. deschauenseei, has sometimes been listed as extinct, but recent surveys have confirmed that it still survives.
Scientific Classification
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