Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plain Chachalaca
Ortalis vetula
Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) — Gamebirds of North America.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) is a member of the Cracidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 563 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 vetula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 563 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Cracidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Plain 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 Plain Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) is a member of the Cracidae family, within the order Galliformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA s Texas to nw Costa Rica.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 563 g, with a wing length of about 19.8 cm and a tail of around 23 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 603,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plain Chachalaca?
The Plain Chachalaca is a large bird that weighs around 563 g.
Where does the Plain Chachalaca live?
The Plain Chachalaca is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA s Texas to nw Costa Rica, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Plain Chachalaca belong to?
The Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) belongs to the Cracidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Plain Chachalaca eat?
The Plain Chachalaca is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Plain Chachalaca migrate?
The Plain Chachalaca is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Plain 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 Plain Chachalaca make?
1 real field recording of the Plain 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 Plain Chachalaca's range?
The Plain Chachalaca has a mapped global range of about 603,000 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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