The Plain Chachalaca

Bird Resources Types of Birds

A first time visitor to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas might be inclined to ask a very reasonable question. What's that chicken doing up in a tree?

The answer is simple. It's not a chicken, it's a Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula), a chicken like bird, and the only member of the Cracidae family found in the United States.

They are fairly large birds, reaching two feet in height. The top picture shows the bird's small head and large tail, brown on the top and brown with white tips on the bottom.

Chachalacas are well known for their vocalization, a series of chac-a-lac calls that spring from their throats as they jump or fly from one tree to another.

Interestingly enough, they share another feature with chickens. Calling a person a chicken usually means that person lacks courage. In some areas of its range, calling a person a chachalaca usually means that person talks too much.

© 2008. Patricia A. Michaels