Photo: Joao Quental / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Speckled Chachalaca
Ortalis guttata
Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata) — Gamebirds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata) is a member of the Cracidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 548 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 guttata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 548 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Speckled Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Speckled Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata) belongs to the Cracidae family of the order Galliformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Amazonia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 548 g, with a wing length of about 19.2 cm and a tail of around 21.5 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 4.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Speckled Chachalaca?
The Speckled Chachalaca is a large bird that weighs around 548 g.
Where does the Speckled Chachalaca live?
The Speckled Chachalaca is found across South America with a range covering SA Amazonia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Speckled Chachalaca belong to?
The Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Speckled Chachalaca eat?
The Speckled Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Speckled Chachalaca migrate?
The Speckled Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Speckled 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 Speckled Chachalaca make?
1 real field recording of the Speckled 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 Speckled Chachalaca's range?
The Speckled Chachalaca has a mapped global range of about 4.4 million 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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