Grey-headed Chachalaca

Overview

The grey-headed chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps) is a medium-sized bird belonging to the family Cracidae, which also includes guans and curassows. It is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Medium-sized bird, 48 to 58 cm long, with a small head, long strong legs, and a long broad tail.
• Dull greyish-brown plumage above and paler below, with a dark grey head and a red dewlap.
• Blackish tail tipped with buff and bright chestnut primary flight feathers.
• Song is a soft "cha-cha-lac-ah", while flocks produce raucous calls described as "kloik, kleeuk kraahk".

Habitat

Found from Honduras through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama into Colombia's Chocó Department, as well as on Isla del Rey in Panama. It inhabits humid landscapes with dense vegetation such as thickets, secondary forest, and thinned forests, while shunning the interior of dense forest. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1,700 m.

Diet

Forages typically in groups of six to 12 individuals within vegetation or on the ground. Its diet consists of approximately 75% fruit, 17% leaves, and 8% invertebrates. During the dry season, the bird visits rivers to drink in the morning and evening.

Did you know?

The species might have been introduced to Isla del Rey by Native Americans. It is notably less noisy than related species such as the plain or rufous-vented chachalacas.