Appearance

Chachalacas (Ortalis) are small cracids. All species have long tails, fairly long and stout tarsi, long necks, and loud raucous calls. Colombian Chachalaca is a relatively large chachalaca, with a total length of 45-60 cm, and mass of 500-600 g. The back and wings are brown; the tail also is brown, but with rufous outer rectrices. The head, neck, and breast are grayer, and the neck and breast are heavily scalloped with white. The belly is light brown, but the lower flanks and undertail coverts are more rufous. The sexes are similar.

Colombian Chachalaca is similar to Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata), but these two species are completely allopatric: Colombian Chachalaca is restricted to the Cauca and Magdalena Valleys, whereas Speckled Chachalaca occurs in Amazonia and on the foothills of the Eastern Andes. Additionally, Colombian Chachalaca has more extensive pale scaling on the breast and belly, compared to the stippled white marks of Speckled Chachalaca (Donegan et al. 2010).

Adult: Sexes are similar. The back and wings are brown; the tail also is brown, but with rufous outer rectrices. The head is ashy gray, paler on the forecrown. The neck and breast are gray or gray brown heavily scalloped with white. The belly is brownish gray, but the lower flanks and undertail coverts are more rufous.

Undescribed for Colombian Chachalaca. Presumably follows the complex basic molt strategy, as does Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) (Pyle 2008).

Iris: Dark brown; narrow area of bare skin around eyes slaty.

Dewlap: Red.

Bill: Slaty at base, whiter toward tip; maxilla darker than mandible.

Total length: 53 cm

Linear measurements (from Vaurie 1968):

male

wing length (flat): mean 224.6 mm (range 213-235 mm, n = 18)

tail length: mean 250.7 mm (range 230-265 mm, n = 17)

bill length (exposed culmen): mean 24.2 mm (range 22-28 mm, n = 17)

tarsus length: mean 59.6 mm (range 56-67 mm, n = 18)

female

wing length (flat): mean 219.5 mm (range 213-230 mm, n = 10)

tail length: mean 240.2 mm (range 225-258 mm, n = 11)

bill length (exposed culmen): mean 23.5 mm (range 22-27 mm, n = 13)

tarsus length: mean 57.6 mm (range 54-63 mm, n = 13)

Mass (from Miller 1952): male, 600 g (n = 1); female, 500 g (n = 1)