Guacharaca Colombiana
Colombian chachalaca
Ortalis columbiana
Song
Colombian Chachalaca
Appearance: The Colombian Chachalaca is a medium-sized bird with a length of about 50-55 cm. It has a brown plumage with darker streaks, a prominent reddish bill, red eyes, and a short, rounded tail. The bird's appearance helps it blend into its forest habitat.
Habitat: Colombian Chachalacas are found in humid lowland and montane forests, particularly along the western slope of the Andes in Colombia. They prefer dense vegetation and forest edges where they can forage for fruits, seeds, and insects.
Behavior: These birds are social and typically move in groups, foraging together for food on the forest floor or in trees. They are known for their loud and distinctive calls, which serve as contact calls within the group and help maintain communication in their dense forest habitats.
Breeding: Colombian Chachalacas build shallow cup nests in trees or dense vegetation, where they lay eggs and rear their young. Breeding pairs work together to raise their chicks, with both parents participating in incubation and feeding duties.
Conservation Status: The Colombian Chachalaca is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN.
Distribution
Western Andes: The Colombian Chachalaca is found in the western Andes, in the departments of Valle del Cauca, Antioquia and Caldas. They like humid and dense forests.
Central Andes: It also inhabits parts of the central Andes, extending into the departments of Risaralda and Quindío.
Eastern Andes: The chachalaca is also found along this eastern range of mountains.
Taxonomy
The Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Galliformes
- Family: Cracidae
- Genus: Ortalis
- Species: Ortalis columbiana
Vocalization
Chachalaca Call: The bird is named after this characteristic call, which sounds like "chachalaca" or "cha-cha-lac." This call is often repeated multiple times in succession and serves as a contact call to help group members stay in touch with each other.
Whistling Call: The Colombian Chachalaca also produces a melodious whistling call that can vary in pitch and intensity. This call may be used for signaling the presence of food, attracting a mate, or communicating during different social contexts.
Alarm Call: When the Colombian Chachalaca senses danger or perceives a threat nearby, it emits an alarm call that is sharp and loud. This call can alert other group members to potential danger and prompt them to take evasive action.
Duetting Calls: During the breeding season, Colombian Chachalacas engage in duetting calls with their mates. These coordinated vocalizations involve both male and female birds and may serve to strengthen pair bonds and reinforce their territorial boundaries.
Contact Calls: Apart from the distinctive "chachalaca" call, Colombian Chachalacas have a range of softer contact calls that they use to communicate over short distances within their group as they forage, move through the forest, or engage in social interactions.
