East Brazilian chachalaca
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Ortalis araucuan

The East Brazilian chachalaca (Ortalis araucuan ) is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows. It is endemic to eastern Brazil.

Appearance

The East Brazilian chachalaca is about 50 cm (1.6 ft) long. It has a dull rufous crown and nape, brown upperparts, and a reddish rump. Its gular patch is red. The lower throat and breast are dark brownish with whitish (female) or buffy (male) spots; the rest of the underparts are white except for the ochre vent. Its dark brown eye is surrounded by bare slate blue skin.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Biogeographical realms

The East Brazilian chachalaca is found in a fairly narrow strip of far eastern Brazil, from Rio Grande do Norte south into Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais. Its primary habitat is the Atlantic Forest but also includes secondary forest, caatinga, and restinga landscapes.

East Brazilian chachalaca habitat map
East Brazilian chachalaca habitat map
East Brazilian chachalaca
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Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

The East Brazilian chachalaca forages in flocks of up to about seven birds. Its diet has not been detailed but is known to be primarily fruits.

Mating Habits

Very little is known about the East Brazilian chachalaca's breeding phenology. One nest was a shallow bowl made of twigs and leaves, but unlined, and sited in dense foliage about 3.2 m (10 ft) up in a tree. It contained three eggs.

Population

Population number

The IUCN has assessed the East Brazilian chachalaca as being of Least Concern. Though its population has not been quantified, the species is generally considered common and the number stable. It appears to tolerate human activity and human-altered habitat but does face some pressure from habitat destruction and hunting.

References

1. East Brazilian chachalaca Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Brazilian_chachalaca
2. East Brazilian chachalaca on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22731569/112398411
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/697121

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