Ortalis wagleri
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri) is an engaging and distinctive member of the Cracidae family, known for its remarkably loud vocalizations that echo through the tropical dry forests of western Mexico. This medium-sized game bird measures approximately 61-67 cm (24-26.4 inches) in length and weighs between 700-900 g (1.5-2 lbs), possessing a slender, turkey-like build with a notably long tail. Its plumage is generally a drab olive-brown on the upperparts, contrasting sharply wit...
Found primarily in tropical dry deciduous forests, thorn scrub, and dense secondary growth, often near watercourses, from sea level up to around 1,500 meters (occasionally higher).
Primarily frugivorous and folivorous, consuming a wide variety of fruits, seeds, flowers, and leaves. They also supplement their diet with insects, especially during the breeding season.
Rufous-bellied Chachalacas are diurnal, active primarily at dawn and dusk when their characteristic calls are most frequent. They exhibit both arboreal and terrestrial foraging behaviors, gleaning fruits, leaves, and insects from trees and also descending to the ground for fallen sustenance. Thes...
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca is endemic to the Pacific slope of western Mexico, with a relatively restricted geographic distribution. Its range extends from southern Sinaloa, southward through Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, and Michoacán. This species is a year-round resident throughout its distribut...
Least Concern
- The name "chachalaca" is an onomatopoeic representation of its loud, raucous, and often synchronized group calls. - Unlike many game birds, Rufous-bellied Chachalacas are highly arboreal, spending a significant portion of their lives high in the canopy. - This species is entirely endemic to a r...