Buff-browed chachalaca
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Ortalis superciliaris

The buff-browed chachalaca (Ortalis superciliaris ) is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows. It is endemic to Brazil.

Appearance

The buff-browed chachalaca is the smallest member of genus Ortalis. It is 42 to 46 cm (1.4 to 1.5 ft) long. Its crown, neck, and upper breast are gray and the rest of its upperparts brown. Its lower breast and belly are tan. The central tail feathers are dark green-brown with chestnut tips; the outer ones are chestnut. Unique among Ortalis, it has a prominent supercilium that can be any color from buffy white to pale cinnamon. Its facial skin is dark slate gray.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Biogeographical realms

The buff-browed chachalaca is found in northeastern Brazil south of the Amazon River in parts of the states of Pará, Maranhão, Ceará, Tocantins, and Piauí. It is a bird of the lowlands, inhabiting scrublands and forest thickets including those in heavily degraded areas.

Buff-browed chachalaca habitat map
Buff-browed chachalaca habitat map
Buff-browed chachalaca
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Diet and Nutrition

No formal study of the buff-browed chachalaca's diet has been published, but it has been observed eating palm fruits and some flowers.

Mating Habits

A study of the buff-browed chachalaca's breeding phenology in Pará found a nesting season between December and February, but active nests have been found in other months as well. One described nest was a flat structure of twigs with leaves and grasses. Nests have been found in a tree fork, on top of tall grass, and in dense bushes. The typical clutch size is two or three eggs.

Population

Population number

The IUCN originally assessed the buff-browed chachalaca as Near Threatened but since 2012 has rated it as being of Least Concern. "Threats listed as habitat destruction and fragmentation, heavy hunting pressure and trade, all of which suggest that it is declining."

References

1. Buff-browed chachalaca Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buff-browed_chachalaca
2. Buff-browed chachalaca on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22678348/92768812
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/669191

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