English             -              Chaco Chachalaca

Portuguese     -               Aracuã-do-pantanal

Latin                -                Ortalis Canicollis

The Chaco Chachalaca was one of the morning alarm clock when we were staying at Passo do Lontra Parque Hotel, in the Pantanal. (2,246 km from Vila Velha) From about 6.30am, this is one of the chorus of birds you heard in the morning. The Chaco Chachalaca was a common sight at the hotel as well as around the areas of the pantanal we visited especially along the road side of MS184. Within the grounds of the hotel the Chaco Chachalaca was quite approachable and could get reasonable close to them to take photos. Outside the grounds, they seemed to be a lot more nervous and would flee to safety when you came across them. All the above photos were taken inside the grounds of Passo do Lontra Parque Hotel.

* The Chaco Chachalaca is a big chicken size bird with a length of around 56 cm and weighs around 600 gr.

* The Chaco Chachalaca is highly vocal. It utters loud cries, often in duet with its mate.

* It is probably sedentary in its range, from E Bolivia, W Paraguay and N Argentina, and SW Mato Grosso, Brazil.

* The Chaco Chachalaca frequents swampy lowland forests and close scrubs, borders of trails and groves’ edges with close vegetation for cover.  

* They are mainly vegetarian, feeding on fruits, seeds and flowers but will consumes some invertebrates and caterpillars.

* The Chaco Chachalaca is a good disperser of seeds because the fruit seeds they eat are defecated intact. 

* The female lays 3-4 eggs which are Incubated only by the female, Incubation lasts about 24 days. The chicks are highly precocial and are able to leave the nest very soon after hatching. 

* The Chaco Chachalaca is common in its range, or locally abundant. However its habitat has been degraded by overgrazing, deforestation and fires. They also are persecuted by hunters for food and sport. However, this species has a fairly stable population, and it is not threatened at the moment. Therefore it is classified as a species ”of least concern”