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Colombian Chachalaca - BirdForum Opus

Photo by olivewarbler
Dapa, Valle, Colombia, January 2009
Ortalis columbiana

Identification

Brown upperside and neck, throat, and upper breast, while underside is paler. White fringes to dark feathers producing a scaled effect, tail with rufous outer feathers.

Distribution

Found in north and central Colombia.

Taxonomy

A monotypic species.
Has been treated as subspecies of Speckled Chachalaca in the past.

Habitat

Low forests and forest borders, palm groves, gardens. Mostly lower elevation, but observed at 2100 meters on the east slope of the West Andes.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes mainly fruit, with the balance comprised of leafs and flowers. It is a seed disperser, seeds often germinate more readily after passing through this species. Readily visits feeders where it particularly likes bananas.

Vocalizations are variations of Cha--Chachalaca

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
  2. Avibase
  3. SACC proposal to split Colombian Chachalaca
  4. Acosta-Rojas et al. 2012. Ornithologia Neotropical 23: 439-453

Recommended Citation

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