Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-bellied Chachalaca
Ortalis wagleri
Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri) — Gamebirds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri) is a member of the Cracidae family found in Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 834 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Cracidae Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans
- Genus Ortalis
- Species wagleri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 834 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri) is a member of the Cracidae family, within the order Galliformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers MA nw and w Mexico.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 834 g, with a wing length of about 24.2 cm and a tail of around 24.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 114,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca?
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca is a large bird that weighs around 834 g.
Where does the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca live?
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca is found across Central America & Caribbean with a range covering MA nw and w Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca belong to?
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca eat?
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca migrate?
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca's range?
The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca has a mapped global range of about 114,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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