© Ian Thompson

Chestnut-headed Chachalaca Ortalis ruficeps

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Identification

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Slender, long-tailed, chickenlike bird that is often seen in small groups. Grayish-brown overall with a warmer chestnut head. At close range note the bare red throat patch and pinkish legs. Found in forest, second-growth woodlands, and river edges. Limited range in central Brazil, south of the Amazon river.. Somewhat similar to Spix’s and Marail Guans, but Chestnut-headed Chachalaca is much smaller and is unlikely to be in canopy of tall forest. Usually quiet, but groups call loudly to each other early in the morning; unmistakable call can be heard for more than a kilometer. Once considered conspecific with Variable Chachalaca, but Chestnut-headed is smaller and has a slower song.

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