Rufous-vented Chachalaca

Ortalis ruficauda

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernFruitWoodlandPlatform nestLarge · 586 g

ID tip

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.

When to see the Rufous-vented 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 Rufous-vented Chachalaca

Regular range

The map shades 4 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

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.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Colombian Chachalaca vs Rufous-vented Chachalaca · Rufous-vented Chachalaca vs Speckled Chachalaca · Chaco Chachalaca vs Rufous-vented Chachalaca · Rufous-vented Chachalaca vs West Mexican Chachalaca · Rufous-bellied Chachalaca vs Rufous-vented Chachalaca

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