Image via Macaulay Library
Variable Chachalaca
- Scientific name
- Ortalis motmot
- Family
- Cracidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Forest deciduous
- Wing shape
- Rounded
- Tail shape
- Rounded
Where it came from
The variable chachalaca, Ortalis motmot, belongs to the Cracidae family, a group of large, arboreal birds native to the Neotropical regions of South America. They occupy a distinct ecological niche in the humid forests of the Guiana Shield and parts of the Amazon Basin, having evolved over millennia to navigate the dense canopy with a flight pattern characterized by short bursts of wings, facilitated by their short, rounded wings and elongated, rounded tails.
The species was formally described by Linnaeus in 1766. Ornithologists have long studied the chachalaca for its complex social vocalizations, which give the bird its common name; the loud, repetitive 'cha-cha-la-ca' calls are a defining feature of the forest soundscape. Taxonomically, the species is recognized for its relative consistency in plumage across its range, though it remains a subject of ongoing study regarding its divergence from other members of the Ortalis genus.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Variable Chachalaca
Variable Chachalaca is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track Variable Chachalaca on collecto.rs?
Variable Chachalaca doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Variable Chachalaca?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your bird, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other birdwatching collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Variable Chachalaca catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Variable Chachalaca is sourced from eBird. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs birds tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your birds is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every bird you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
