Speckled Chachalaca
Ortalis guttata
A grayish-brown, chicken-like bird of South American forest edges, marked with fine pale speckling on the breast and a long tail broadly tipped in cinnamon. It is best known for its loud, raucous dawn calls that give the chachalaca its name.
- Feather type
- Loose contour feathers with a long, graduated tail; bare reddish throat skin
- Colours
- Grayish-brown overall with pale speckling on the breast and neck, and a cinnamon-tipped tail
- Bird size
- Medium-sized, ~48-58 cm
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Overview
Overview
The Speckled Chachalaca is a grayish-brown gamebird of the western Amazon basin, marked by fine whitish or buffy speckling concentrated on the breast and foreneck, and a long, graduated tail broadly tipped in cinnamon or rufous. Like other chachalacas, it is best known for its loud, raucous calls, often given as a chorus among several birds at dawn and dusk.
Identifying the Feather
Feather Identification
- Body: Grayish-brown overall, with fine whitish or buffy speckling concentrated on the breast and foreneck.
- Back and wings: Plain brown.
- Tail: Long and graduated, dark with a broad cinnamon or rufous tip band, conspicuous in flight.
- Throat: Bare reddish skin patch that inflates during calling.
- Versus similar chachalacas: Other chachalaca species differ in the extent of breast speckling and tail-tip color; the Speckled Chachalaca's breast speckling and cinnamon tail tip help distinguish it within its range.
Plumage & Molt
Plumage Notes
Sexes are similar. Juveniles are duller, with less distinct speckling. A single complete molt occurs annually.
Habitat & Range
Habitat & Range
The Speckled Chachalaca is found in the western Amazon basin and adjacent foothills, including parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. It inhabits forest edge, secondary growth, and riverside woodland at low to moderate elevations, and is resident and non-migratory.
Behavior & Field Notes
Behavior & Field Notes
Speckled Chachalacas forage in trees and shrubs for fruit, leaves, and flowers, usually in noisy groups. They are renowned for loud, repetitive calls given especially at dawn and dusk, often as a chorus among several birds. Nests are simple platforms built in dense vegetation, and the species is generally wary, quick to flee into cover when disturbed.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Speckled Chachalaca?
It shows fine pale speckling on the breast and neck, and its name also echoes the loud, repetitive calls typical of chachalacas.
What time of day are Speckled Chachalacas most vocal?
They are especially vocal at dawn and dusk, often calling in a noisy chorus with other birds in the group.
Where does the Speckled Chachalaca live?
It is found in the western Amazon basin and adjacent foothills, including parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.
What does the Speckled Chachalaca eat?
It forages in trees and shrubs for fruit, leaves, and flowers.
Speckled Chachalaca guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Speckled Chachalaca.
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