Variable Chachalaca Ortalis motmot Scientific name definitions

Formerly named the Little Chachalaca, the Variable Chachalaca can be found from southern Venezuela east to northern Brazil. With its chestnut colored head, the Variable Chachalaca is similar in appearance to the Chestnut-winged Chachalaca (O. garrula) and the Rufous-headed Chachalaca (O. erythroptera), but with brown primaries instead of chestnut. These birds prefer dense undergrowth along rivers, tangled coastal scrub and dense second growth. Its diet consists of berries and fruit, which it forages for in small flocks in trees or on the ground. Nests are made in shrubs or low trees, and consist of a small cup made of roots and flattened sticks lined with leaves.

43–54 cm; 345–620 g. Reddish-chestnut head contrasting with gray underparts; dark-brown primaries. Facial skin dark slate (1 Delacour, J., and D. Amadon (2004). Curassows and Related Birds. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Close ).

Similar in appearance to formerly conspecific, now allopatric Chestnut-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficeps), but larger, with faster vocal phrasing and delivery (2 Tomotani, B. M., L. F. Silveira, and J. F. Pacheco (2020) Morphology and vocalization support specific status of the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca, Ortalis motmot ruficeps (Wagler, 1830) (Aves; Galliformes; Cracidae). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 2020; v.60: e20206012. Close ). Also similar to Chestnut-winged Chachalaca (O. garrula) and the Rufous-headed Chachalaca (O. erythroptera), but with brown primaries instead of chestnut.

Has been considered conspecific with Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata) (along with the species and forms that have traditionally been lumped with it) and Buff-browed Chachalaca (Ortalis superciliaris), and is probably also closely related to White-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis leucogastra). Former subspecies ruficeps recently elevated to a full species (Chestnut-headed Chachalaca [Ortalis ruficeps]) by the AOS/SACC (3 Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer (2021). A classification of the bird species of South America. Version 15. American Ornithological Society. Close ) on the basis of vocal, morphological, and (slight) plumage differences (2 Tomotani, B. M., L. F. Silveira, and J. F. Pacheco (2020) Morphology and vocalization support specific status of the Chestnut-headed Chachalaca, Ortalis motmot ruficeps (Wagler, 1830) (Aves; Galliformes; Cracidae). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 2020; v.60: e20206012. Close ).

Southern and eastern Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil, north of lower Rio Amazon (east of Rio Negro); speculated to occur in neighboring southeastern Colombia.

Patches of forest with dense undergrowth along rivers or in clearings in more extensive woodlands. Also thick tangled coastal brush and dense second growth, including abandoned pastures and other anthropogenic environments (4 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ). Avoids dense forest. Lowlands up to 1700 m. In French Guiana prefers interface between savanna and forest, and secondary forest near settled areas.

No information available; presumably sedentary.

Mainly berries and fruits (including Cecropia  ); one record of flowers, of Roupala complicata (Proteaceae) (4 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ); also leaves of Carica papaya  (Caricaceae). Usually forages in pairs or small flocks, in trees or on the ground.

Typical of all Ortalis: song (given by duetting pair during breeding season, but by groups of three individuals at other times of year) is a loud, rollicking duet, a repeated “WATCH-a-lak” , which is mainly given at dawn and dusk, and is reported to be most like that of O. ruficauda, although latter noisier and more raucous (4 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ). Neighboring groups or pairs often answer the first to call (4 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ).

Records of laying in May, Sept and Dec in Surinam; Nov–Dec, at beginning of rains, in French Guiana; chick in early Nov  in Brazil.

Nest a fairly small cup, constructed of small roots, flattened leaves and sticks, and lined with leaves; one nest was built on fork of small shrub at c. 2 m above ground, another in a low tree; in French Guiana species said to place nest low in bushes or even on ground.

Clutch three white (1 Delacour, J., and D. Amadon (2004). Curassows and Related Birds. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Close ) eggs, size 52·2–56·9 mm × 36·2–38·9 mm (1 Delacour, J., and D. Amadon (2004). Curassows and Related Birds. Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Close ).

Chick has largely dark upperparts, except rufous head and tips to wing-coverts, and mainly buffy underparts .

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Almost certainly occurs in easternmost Colombia, given sight records from around Inírida, Guainía, by an experienced observer (5 Stiles, F. G., and J. Beckers (2016). Un inventario de las aves de la región de Inírida, Guainía, Colombia. Ornitología Colombiana 15:21–52. (In Spanish with English summary.) Close ). Considered rather common in Suriname , Guyana, and French Guiana; in Brazil fairly common in Amapá, N Roraima, and around Manaus (Amazonas). In Venezuela, considered to be generally widespread and abundant in Bolívar, but much less so in Amazonas state (4 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ). Known from several protected areas, including Raleigh Falls Nature Reserve (Suriname), and Caura Forest and Canaima National Park (Venezuela) (4 del Hoyo, J., and A. Motis (2004). Update chapter. In Curassows and Related Birds (J. Delacour, and D. Amadon), Second edition. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain, and American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. pp. 322–476. Close ). Quite common in captivity, where frequently bred.