Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) by us at Santa Ana NWR Texas 2002
Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. (Genesis 1:30 NKJV)
CLASS – AVES, Order – GALLIFORMES, Family – Cracidae – Chachalacas, Curassows & Guans
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Latest I.O.C. Version
Species (55)
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Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)
Grey-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis cinereiceps)
Chestnut-winged Chachalaca (Ortalis garrula)
Rufous-vented Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficauda)
Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera)
Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri)
West Mexican Chachalaca (Ortalis poliocephala)
Chaco Chachalaca (Ortalis canicollis)
White-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis leucogastra)
Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata)
East Brazilian Chachalaca (Ortalis araucuan)
Scaled Chachalaca (Ortalis squamata)
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana)
Little Chachalaca (Ortalis motmot)
Chestnut-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis ruficeps)
Buff-browed Chachalaca (Ortalis superciliaris)
Band-tailed Guan (Penelope argyrotis)
Bearded Guan (Penelope barbata)
Baudo Guan (Penelope ortoni)
Andean Guan (Penelope montagnii)
Marail Guan (Penelope marail)
Rusty-margined Guan (Penelope superciliaris)
Red-faced Guan (Penelope dabbenei)
Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens)
Cauca Guan (Penelope perspicax)
White-winged Guan (Penelope albipennis)
Spix’s Guan (Penelope jacquacu)
Dusky-legged Guan (Penelope obscura)
White-crested Guan (Penelope pileata)
Chestnut-bellied Guan (Penelope ochrogaster)
White-browed Guan (Penelope jacucaca)
Trinidad Piping Guan (Pipile pipile)
Blue-throated Piping Guan (Pipile cumanensis)
Red-throated Piping Guan (Pipile cujubi)
Black-fronted Piping Guan (Pipile jacutinga)
Wattled Guan (Aburria aburri)
Black Guan (Chamaepetes unicolor)
Sickle-winged Guan (Chamaepetes goudotii)
Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra)
Horned Guan (Oreophasis derbianus)
Nocturnal Curassow (Nothocrax urumutum)
Crestless Curassow (Mitu tomentosum)
Salvin’s Curassow (Mitu salvini)
Razor-billed Curassow (Mitu tuberosum)
Alagoas Curassow (Mitu mitu)
Helmeted Curassow (Pauxi pauxi)
Horned Curassow (Pauxi unicornis)
Sira Curassow (Pauxi koepckeae)
Great Curassow (Crax rubra)
Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti)
Yellow-knobbed Curassow (Crax daubentoni)
Black Curassow (Crax alector)
Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa)
Bare-faced Curassow (Crax fasciolata)
Red-billed Curassow (Crax blumenbachii)
On the photos or slides, a “by” indicates one of the photographers or videographers, who have given their permission, with links on our sidebar. Please visit their site to see many more fantastic shots, a “©©” copyright symbol indicates a photo from Creative Commons and ©WikiC is a Creative Commons photo from Wikipedia.
Photographers or Videographers used on this page from our sidebar, Photography, are:
Dave’s BirdingPix
Ian Montgomery’s Birdway
Keith Blomerley – Videographer
Back to Family Page – CLICK HERE
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Articles Mentioning Birds From This Family:
- Cracidae – Chachalacas, Curassows and Guans – Updated
- Birdwatching Trip – Santa Ana NWR
- Formed By Him – Bearded Barbet (Guan mentioned)
Other Websites that have photos of this Family:
- Guans, Chachalacas and Allies – World Bird Guide
- Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows (Cracidae) – IBC
- Family:Cracidae – Ian’s Birdway
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The chachalacas, guans and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae. These are species of tropical and subtropical Central and South America. One species, the Plain Chachalaca, just reaches southernmost Texas in the USA. Two species, the Trinidad Piping Guan and the Rufous-vented Chachalaca occur on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago respectively.
Cracids are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. Many species are fairly long tailed, which may be an aide to navigating their largely arboreal existence. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colourful facial ornaments. The birds in this family are particularly vocal, with the chachalacas taking their name from the sound of their call. Cracids range in size from the Little Chachalaca (Ortalis motmot), at as little as 38 cm (15 in) and 350 g (12.5 oz), to the Great Curassow (Crax rubra), at nearly 1 m (40 in) and 4.3 kg (9.5 lbs). (Wikipedia)
Photos are Alphabetical down the columns:
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