Photo: Cláudio Dias Timm from Rio Grande do Sul / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Scaled Chachalaca
Ortalis squamata
Scaled Chachalaca (Ortalis squamata) — Gamebirds of South America.
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The Scaled Chachalaca (Ortalis squamata) 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 squamata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 548 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scaled 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 Scaled Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scaled Chachalaca (Ortalis squamata) is a member of the Cracidae family, within the order Galliformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA se Brazil.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 548 g, with a wing length of about 20.6 cm and a tail of around 22.9 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 291,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scaled Chachalaca?
The Scaled Chachalaca is a large bird that weighs around 548 g.
Where does the Scaled Chachalaca live?
The Scaled Chachalaca is found across South America with a range covering SA se Brazil, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Scaled Chachalaca belong to?
The Scaled Chachalaca (Ortalis squamata) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Scaled Chachalaca eat?
The Scaled Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Scaled Chachalaca migrate?
The Scaled Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scaled 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 Scaled Chachalaca make?
1 real field recording of the Scaled 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 Scaled Chachalaca's range?
The Scaled Chachalaca has a mapped global range of about 291,000 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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