Rufous-headed Chachalaca
NameRufous-headed Chachalaca
Common NameRufous-headed Chachalaca
Scientific NameOrtalis erythroptera
FamilyCracidae
Wingspan (cm)55
Length (cm)61
Weight (g)525
Plumage DetailsThe head and neck are a striking rufous (reddish-brown). The upperparts, wings, and tail are dark olive-brown, while the belly and undertail coverts are a paler, buffy white. The primary coverts and undertail are also rufous.
Vocalization / CallKnown for loud, raucous, and often synchronized calls, typically described as a series of "cha-cha-lac" notes, given by multiple birds in a chorus, especially at dawn and dusk.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeEndemic to western Ecuador and extreme southwestern Colombia.
Identifying Featuresrufous head and neck, dark olive-brown body, long tail, loud, raucous calls, arboreal habit
Description
This medium-sized, arboreal bird is characterized by its distinctive rufous head and neck, contrasting with its dark olive-brown body and paler underparts. It is typically found in tropical and subtropical forests, often moving in small groups and known for its loud, raucous vocalizations.
