Plain Chachalaca
Ortalis vetula

My first Plain Chachalaca was found rather easily; it flew into a tree a few feet from me along a trail at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in southern Texas, and posed for several minutes. These raucous creatures turned out to be one of the easiest birds to find in the region, but were no less enjoyable for their abundance.  


My first Plain Chachalaca, easily found at Santa Ana NWR.

Below is the feeding frenzy when caretakers at the Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary put out their daily seed. In my limited experience with chachalacas, I have found the Rufous-vented Chachalacas of Tobago to be similarly gregarious, but the Gray-headed Chachalacas of Panama appear to be more secretive, forest-dwelling birds.  


Plain Chachalacas enjoy the free buffet at Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary.

Elsewhere on this site: Texas 2004 Journal

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