Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut-headed Chachalaca
Ortalis ruficeps
Chestnut-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficeps) — Gamebirds of South America.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chestnut-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficeps) is a member of the Cracidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 520 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Cracidae Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans
- Genus Ortalis
- Species ruficeps
Quick facts
- Weight
- 520 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 Chestnut-headed Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Chestnut-headed Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chestnut-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficeps) belongs to the Cracidae family of the order Galliformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA nc Brazil.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 520 g, with a wing length of about 20.7 cm and a tail of around 23.7 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca?
The Chestnut-headed Chachalaca is a large bird that weighs around 520 g.
Where does the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca live?
The Chestnut-headed Chachalaca is found across South America with a range covering SA nc Brazil, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca belong to?
The Chestnut-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficeps) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca eat?
The Chestnut-headed Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca migrate?
The Chestnut-headed Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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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