White-bellied Chachalaca
NameWhite-bellied Chachalaca
Common NameWhite-bellied Chachalaca
Scientific NameOrtalis leucogastra
FamilyCracidae
Wingspan (cm)55
Length (cm)55
Weight (g)525
Plumage DetailsThis chachalaca has a dark grey head and neck, often with bare reddish skin on the throat. Its upperparts are olive-brown to dark brown, contrasting sharply with its clean white belly and undertail coverts. The long tail is dark brown, sometimes with a paler tip.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its loud, raucous, and often repetitive calls, typically a series of 'cha-cha-lac' or 'ra-ca-lac' notes. These calls are often given in a chorus by multiple birds, creating a distinctive sound of its habitat.
Primary Dietfrugivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound along the Pacific slope of southern Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Identifying Featureswhite belly, grey head and neck, red gular skin, long tail, olive-brown upperparts
Description
The White-bellied Chachalaca is a medium-sized, long-tailed game bird typically found in dense tropical and subtropical vegetation. It is known for its highly social nature, often moving in small groups, and its distinctive loud, raucous calls, especially at dawn and dusk.
