Rufous-vented chachalaca
Rufous-vented chachalaca | |
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In Venezuela | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Galliformes |
Family: | Cracidae |
Genus: | Ortalis |
Species: | O. ruficauda
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Binomial name | |
Ortalis ruficauda Jardine , 1847 | |
The rufous-vented chachalaca (Ortalis ruficauda) is a member of an ancient group of
Habitat
The rufous-vented chachalaca is a largely
Description
These are medium-sized birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys, with small heads, long strong legs and a long broad tail. They are typically 53–58 cm long; the female weighs 540g and the larger male 640g. They have fairly dull plumage, dark brown above and paler below. The head is grey, and the brown tail is tipped rufous or white depending on race.
Call
As other chachalacas, the rufous-vented chachalaca is a very noisy species, preferring to execute their vocal feats at dawn. The male's call is a loud low ka-ka-rooki-rooki-ka, answered by the female's high-pitched watch-a-lak, which they often repeat several times in a row, in precise synchronization.
Breeding and behaviour
The species is a social bird, often seen in family groups. It walks along branches seeking the
Subspecies
There are two subspecies:
- O. r. ruficauda (Jardine, 1847) - northeast Isla Margarita
- O. r. ruficrissa (Sclater and Salvin, 1870) - northern Colombia and northwest Venezuela
References
- Evans, Peter (1990). Birds of the Eastern Caribbean. Macmillan, ISBN 0-333-52155-2
- ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2.
- Hilty, Steven L (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
External links
- Stamps (for Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela)
- Rufous-vented Chachalaca videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Rufous-vented Chachalaca photo gallery VIREO