2013 Bonanza Bird #24: Plain Chachalaca

The end is in sight! We're continuing to add new birds and today's is the 24th species in the current Bonanza. Today's Bonanza bird is the Plain Chachalaca.

Birdorable Plain Chachalaca

Plain Chachalacas are large grouse-like birds related to curassows and guans. They are found in a rather large range across much of eastern Central America and Mexico. Their range extends up to the southernmost tip of Texas, making the species a specialty sought-after by North American birders visiting the Lone Star State.

Plain Chachalaca (<I>Ortalis vetula</I>), San Ygnacio, Texas
Plain Chachalaca by Vince Smith (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Plain Chachalacas spend much of their time on the ground. Though they can fly, they have relatively weak wing muscles so they much prefer to get around on foot. They will even flee from danger by running rather than flying, if they can. They are also ground nesters.

Plain Chachalaca merchandise

Tomorrow's new species is a large seabird found in and around northern Atlantic waters.

bonanza-2013-preview-30

Comments

Leo Antonio on July 24, 2013 at 11:08 AM wrote:
I hope it's an Auk.
nuthatches are awesome on July 24, 2013 at 3:33 PM wrote:
Is it a Gannet
Jays and Kestrels on September 14, 2013 at 9:33 PM wrote:
who watches under the dome?
Jays and Kestrels on September 16, 2013 at 9:17 PM wrote:
sorry, that was off topic. love the name chacalaca!! :)
Heather Richards on October 7, 2016 at 9:01 PM wrote:
I love the name chacalaca, though it sounds like the word "poop". We used to have these birds around here and we called them ow-chacalacas.
Louise Warner on February 25, 2017 at 9:27 AM wrote:
northern gannet?
Heather Richards on March 9, 2017 at 3:26 PM wrote:
You got me jumping like boom shakalaka boom shakalaka boom, boom chakalaka boom shakalaka boom. Boom shakalak, boom shakalak boom. Do you know that song? .
Cadence on September 19, 2020 at 10:14 PM wrote:
It's a shakalaka-duck. potato.
Spurwing Plover on July 7, 2021 at 2:56 AM wrote:
Maybe a Common Loon
Spurwing Plover on May 8, 2022 at 7:34 AM wrote:
Well Skuas me
Spurwing Plover on May 21, 2022 at 6:48 AM wrote:
He dont care to by Fancy he is just a a Plain Chachalacka

Leave a comment

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.
Your email address will not be published

Bonanza Bird #13: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Lucky Bonanza bird #13 is the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher! There are twelve species of gnatcatcher in the world. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher occurs the furthest north of all, and is the only species that migrates (at least part of the population does...

Dark-eyed Juncos: 10 Fun Facts

Dark-eyed Juncos are small migratory songbirds that live across parts of North America. Here are some cool facts about the Dark-eyed Junco: 1) Because of their high population (estimated at 630 million individuals!), their relative...

Geeking out with Penn Jillette

Today friend-of-Birdorable Sharon - Birdchick herself - posted a neat celebrity birding video on her blog. In the clip, she talks with Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) about the birds in his Las Vegas back yard, including a Black-chinned Hummingbird. It's a fun interview...

Bird Song Matching Quiz

A mnemonic device is something used to aid memory or learning. Sometimes birders 'translate' bird songs into mnemonics to help them remember which bird is singing a particular song. We've made a fun quiz showing ten of our Birdorable birds and the common mnemonics birdwatchers sometimes use to...