Bird Guide

Grey-headed Chachalaca vs Plain Chachalaca

Grey-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps)

Grey-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

Large493 gShrubland

The grey-headed chachalaca is a medium-sized bird, similar in general appearance to turkeys, with a small head, long strong legs, and a long broad tail. They are 48 to 58 cm (1.6 to 1.9 ft) long and weigh 490 to 540 g (1.1 to 1.2 lb). They have fairly dull plumage, grayish brown above and paler below. The head is dark grey with a red dewlap and the blackish tail is tipped with buff. Their primary flight feathers are bright chestnut. Juveniles are browner overall, especially on the head. Voice: The grey-headed chachalaca is less noisy than plain (O. vetula) or rufous-vented chachalacas (O. ruficauda). Its song is a soft "cha-cha-lac-ah". Flocks give raucous calls described as "kloik, kleeuk kraahk". It also makes a variety of screams, sharp alarm calls, and a quiet purr.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Grey-headed Chachalaca
Recorded by radrat · Uncertain · Pipeline road, Panama · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Cricket Raspet · CC BY 4.0
Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)

Plain Chachalaca

Ortalis vetula

Large563 gShrubland

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 appearance 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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Brooke Smith · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Grey-headed Chachalaca and Plain Chachalaca.