Chestnut-winged chachalaca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chestnut-winged chachalaca |
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Ortalis
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| Species: |
garrula
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The chestnut-winged chachalaca (Ortalis garrula) is a cool bird that lives in Colombia. It belongs to a family of birds called Cracidae, which includes chachalacas, guans, and curassows. This bird is special because it is found only in Colombia.
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About the Chestnut-winged Chachalaca
This bird was once thought to be the same as the grey-headed chachalaca. But scientists now know it is its own unique species. It is the only type of chestnut-winged chachalaca, meaning it is "monotypic."
What Does It Look Like?
The chestnut-winged chachalaca is about 53 to 60 centimeters (about 21 to 24 inches) long. That's roughly the length of your arm! Males can weigh around 755 grams (about 1.7 pounds). Females are a bit lighter, at about 630 grams (about 1.4 pounds).
Both male and female birds have brown feathers on their upper bodies. Their head and neck are a lighter brown. Their tail is dark gray-brown with a white tip. The throat and upper chest are also brown. This brown color sharply changes to white on their lower chest, sides, and belly. A cool feature is their bright chestnut-colored (reddish-brown) flight feathers. Around their eyes, they have bare skin that can be reddish or black.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the chestnut-winged chachalaca in northern Colombia. It lives in an area near the Sinú River in the west. To the east, it's found near the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. In the south, it lives near the lower Cauca and Magdalena River valleys.
This bird likes places with lots of plants. It lives in scrubby forests, dry bushy areas, tropical thickets, and even mangrove swamps. It doesn't like to go deep into dense forests. Instead, it prefers the edges of these forests. You can find it from sea level up to about 800 meters (about 2,600 feet) high.
How Does It Behave?
What Do They Eat?
Chestnut-winged chachalacas usually look for food in groups of up to eight birds. They mostly search in trees, but sometimes they look on the ground too. Unlike some other chachalacas, they are quiet while they eat. Their diet includes both fruits and leaves. They eat more fruits during the rainy season and more leaves when it's dry.
How Do They Raise Their Young?
These birds lay their eggs during the dry season, which is from January to April. Their nest is a simple platform built in a tree. A female can lay up to four eggs at a time.
What Do They Sound Like?
The chestnut-winged chachalaca is a very vocal bird. You can hear them calling throughout the year, especially at dawn. They call even more during their breeding season. The most common sound you'll hear is a duet, which sounds like "wha-cha-rá." This call can travel a very long distance!
Is It Endangered?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says the chestnut-winged chachalaca is a species of "Least Concern." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing. It is thought to be quite common in most places where it lives. However, much of its natural home has been changed by humans. These birds do not like areas where forests have been cut down. So, protecting their habitat is important for their future.
See also
In Spanish: Guacharaca caribeña para niños
