Order
Galliformes
Family
Cracidae
Genus
Ortalis
 
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Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

West Mexican Chachalaca Ortalis poliocephala

Claudia I. Rodríguez-Flores and Marîa del Coro Arizmendi
Version: 1.0 — Published April 25, 2014

Behavior

Introduction

West Mexican Chachalacas forage frequently on the ground, but also ascend shrubs and trees.

Territoriality

There are no published data on territorial defense, maintenance, or fidelity, or for territory or home range size, for West Mexican Chachalaca.

Sexual Behavior

West Mexican Chachalaca is monogamous (González and García et al. 2001).

Social and interspecific behavior

West Mexican Chachalacas live in social groups throughout the year; these groups may be as small as a pair or up to 10 individuals (Howell and Webb 1995), even up to 35 individuals (González-García et al. 2001).

Predation

Grayson (in Ridgway 1875) reported that Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri) was a "favorite prey" of Collared Forest-Falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus); probably this forest-falcon also preys on West Mexican Chachalaca, but this apparently has not been documented.

Recommended Citation

Rodríguez-Flores, C. I. and M. d. C. Arizmendi (2014). West Mexican Chachalaca (Ortalis poliocephala), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.wemcha1.01