Plain Chachalaca

Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) is in the Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows family (Cracidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,035 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Plain Chachalaca: observations by month (U.S.)

About Plain Chachalaca

The plain chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) is a large bird in the chachalaca, guan and curassow family Cracidae. It breeds in tropical and subtropical environments from mezquital thickets in the Rio Grande Valley in southernmost Texas, United States to northernmost Costa Rica. In Central America, this species occurs in the Pacific lowlands from Chiapas, Mexico to northern Nicaragua and as a separate population in Costa Rica, where its range is separated by a short distance, as a...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Plain Chachalaca by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ