Colombian Chachalaca
Ortalis columbiana

f4.5 @ 1/640s, ISO:2000, Nikon D3S w 500mm

"Colombian Chachalaca," Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The Colombian chachalaca is a species of bird in the family Cracidae. It is endemic to the forests and woodlands in the inter-Andean valleys in Colombia. Colombian Chachalacas are frugivorous and lead an arboreal lifestyle. The large seeds they disperse through defecation support the maintenance of diverse tropical forests. The Colombian chachalaca is a typical Ortalis species – a large, plump forest bird with a long slender neck, small head, long and robust legs (tarsi) and a long tail. Similar/identical for both sexes. The upperparts are mostly brown, shading to greyish-brown on the primaries and secondaries. The outer feathers of the tail are rufous-brown. The head and neck are grey, with a red dewlap on the neck. The breast feathers are grey with prominent white scalloping, a distinguishing characteristic compared to the similar-looking speckled chachalaca. The belly is buffy with rufous shading on the thighs and flanks and rufous undertail coverts.

Dagua, Colombia

12/15/2022