Photo: Mateo.gable / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Colombian Chachalaca
Ortalis columbiana
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana) — Gamebirds of South America.
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The Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana) 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 columbiana
Quick facts
- Weight
- 548 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Colombian 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 Colombian Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana) belongs to the Cracidae family of the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA nc Colombia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 548 g, with a wing length of about 22.6 cm and a tail of around 27 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 117,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Colombian Chachalaca?
The Colombian Chachalaca is a large bird that weighs around 548 g.
Where does the Colombian Chachalaca live?
The Colombian Chachalaca is found across South America with a range covering SA nc Colombia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Colombian Chachalaca belong to?
The Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Colombian Chachalaca eat?
The Colombian Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Colombian Chachalaca migrate?
The Colombian Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Colombian 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 Colombian Chachalaca make?
1 real field recording of the Colombian Chachalaca — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Colombian Chachalaca's range?
The Colombian Chachalaca has a mapped global range of about 117,000 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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