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Colombian Chachalaca

Ortalis columbiana

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernEndemicFruitShrublandPlatform nestLarge · 548 g
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 1
Photo: Anthony Batista · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 2
Photo: Paul Hoekman · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 3
Photo: Catalina Ayala · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 4
Photo: EstebanMH · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 5
Photo: EstebanMH · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 6
Photo: Kristiina Hurme · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 7
Photo: Kristiina Hurme · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 8
Photo: Catalina Ayala · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 9
Photo: Catalina Ayala · CC BY 4.0
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana), photo 10
Photo: Paul Hoekman · CC BY 4.0

What the Colombian Chachalaca sounds like

Sonogram of the Colombian Chachalaca: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Eduardo Rudas Burgos · Call · Proyecto Gaia, Puerto Lopez, Santa Sofía, Boyacá, Colombia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The Colombian chachalaca is a typical Ortalis species – a large, plump forest bird with a long slender neck, small head, long and robust legs (tarsi) and a long tail. Size. Adults of this species have a length of 50–60 cm. The average wing length is 22.5 cm (males)/ 19.6 cm (females), and the average tail length is 25 and 24 cm respectively. Tarsi average 6 cm (males) and 5.8 cm (females). Adult bird have a typical mass of 600g (male), and 500g (female). Appearance. Similar/identical for both sexes. The upperparts are mostly brown, shading to greyish-brown on the primaries and secondaries.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Colombian Chachalaca

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Colombian Chachalaca

Regular range

The map shades 1 country with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Colombia

About the Colombian Chachalaca

The Colombian chachalaca is a species of bird in the family Cracidae. It is endemic to the forests and woodlands in the inter-Andean valleys in Colombia. Colombian chachalacas are frugivorous and lead an arboreal lifestyle. The large seeds they disperse through defecation support the maintenance of diverse tropical forests.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata) Speckled ChachalacaOrtalis guttataThe speckled chachalaca is 49 to 55 cm (1.6 to 1.8 ft) long. Chaco Chachalaca (Ortalis canicollis) Chaco ChachalacaOrtalis canicollisThe Chaco chachalaca is 50 to 56 cm (1.6 to 1.8 ft) long and weighs 479 to 678 g (1.1 to 1.5 lb). Rufous-vented Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficauda) Rufous-vented ChachalacaOrtalis ruficaudaThese are medium-sized birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys, with small heads, long strong legs and a long broad tail.

Side by side: Colombian Chachalaca vs Plain Chachalaca · Colombian Chachalaca vs Grey-headed Chachalaca · Colombian Chachalaca vs Speckled Chachalaca · Chaco Chachalaca vs Colombian Chachalaca · Colombian Chachalaca vs Rufous-vented Chachalaca

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