Photo: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil from Brazil / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
East Brazilian Chachalaca
Ortalis araucuan
East Brazilian Chachalaca (Ortalis araucuan) — Gamebirds of South America.
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The East Brazilian Chachalaca (Ortalis araucuan) 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 araucuan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 548 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The East Brazilian 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 East Brazilian Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The East Brazilian Chachalaca (Ortalis araucuan) belongs to the Cracidae family of the order Galliformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA e Brazil.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 548 g, with a wing length of about 18 cm and a tail of around 21.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 350,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the East Brazilian Chachalaca?
The East Brazilian Chachalaca is a large bird that weighs around 548 g.
Where does the East Brazilian Chachalaca live?
The East Brazilian Chachalaca is found across South America with a range covering SA e Brazil, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the East Brazilian Chachalaca belong to?
The East Brazilian Chachalaca (Ortalis araucuan) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the East Brazilian Chachalaca eat?
The East Brazilian Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the East Brazilian Chachalaca migrate?
The East Brazilian Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the East Brazilian 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 East Brazilian Chachalaca make?
1 real field recording of the East Brazilian Chachalaca — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the East Brazilian Chachalaca's range?
The East Brazilian Chachalaca has a mapped global range of about 350,000 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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