Rufous-headed Chachalaca
Ortalis erythroptera
The Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera) is a rare guans, curassows, and chachalaca found in 3 countries, weighing about 632 g. The rufous-headed chachalaca is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows.
About the Rufous-headed Chachalaca
The rufous-headed chachalaca is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The rufous-headed chachalaca is 56 to 66 cm (1.8 to 2.2 ft) long and weighs 620 to 645 g (1.4 to 1.4 lb). It has a rufous head and neck and gray-brown back. The central tail feathers are dark gray and the outer ones gray near the body and chestnut on their outer halves. The lower breast and belly are creamy white. The primary flight feathers are bright chestnut. Its brown eye is surrounded by bare bluish gray skin. The legs are pale blue. Voice: The rufous-headed chachalaca is most vocal from before dawn into the early morning. Its principal call is a "raucous, repeated 'kwak-ar-ar-ar', 'cha-cha-kaw' or shriller 'kra-kra-kra'", and is usually initiated by the male. Pairs give several calls "including a soft cooing or clucking, harsh 'cow', and fast, repeated 'kawuck'."
What the Rufous-headed Chachalaca sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Rufous-headed Chachalaca can be seen all year round, with peak activity in December. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Rufous-headed Chachalaca?
- The rufous-headed chachalaca is 56 to 66 cm (1.8 to 2.2 ft) long and weighs 620 to 645 g (1.4 to 1.4 lb). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Rufous-headed Chachalaca?
- The Rufous-headed Chachalaca is a large sized bird weighing about 632 g.
- Where can you see a Rufous-headed Chachalaca?
- The Rufous-headed Chachalaca occurs in 3 countries, including Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.
- What does a Rufous-headed Chachalaca sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Rufous-headed Chachalaca on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Rufous-headed Chachalaca?
- The Rufous-headed Chachalaca is most easily confused with the Scaled Chachalaca, the Chestnut-winged Chachalaca and the Little Chachalaca.
- Is the Rufous-headed Chachalaca endangered?
- The Rufous-headed Chachalaca is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Rufous-headed Chachalaca for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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