About the Rufous-vented Chachalaca
The rufous-vented chachalaca is a member of an ancient group of birds of the family Cracidae, which are related to the Australasian mound builders. It inhabits northeast Colombia and northern Venezuela where it is called guacharaca, and the island of Tobago in Trinidad and Tobago where it is known as the cocrico and is one of the country's two national birds. It is also found on Bequia and Union Island in the Grenadines where it may have been introduced.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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These are medium-sized birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys, with small heads, long strong legs and a long broad tail. They are typically 53–58 cm long; the female weighs 540g and the larger male 640g. They have fairly dull plumage, dark brown above and paler below. The head is grey, and the brown tail is tipped rufous or white depending on race. Voice: As other chachalacas, the rufous-vented chachalaca is a very noisy species, preferring to execute their vocal feats at dawn. The male's call is a loud low ka-ka-rooki-rooki-ka, answered by the female's high-pitched watch-a-lak, which they often repeat several times in a row, in precise synchronization.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Rufous-vented Chachalaca lives
When to see the Rufous-vented Chachalaca
Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
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).
West Mexican ChachalacaOrtalis poliocephalaThe West Mexican chachalaca is 58.5 to 68.5 cm (1.9 to 2.2 ft) long.
Rufous-bellied ChachalacaOrtalis wagleriThe rufous-bellied chachalaca is 62 to 67 cm (2.0 to 2.2 ft) long and weighs about 834 g (1.8 lb).
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