Chaco chachalaca

Scientific name: Ortalis canicollis

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small, slender game bird with grey-brown plumage, rufous-tinged wings, and a long tail. Males slightly larger than females with brighter rufous colouration on wings and crown.

Size and weight

Males 23–26 cm, 70–90 g; females 21–24 cm, 60–80 g.

Habitat

Dry scrubland, thorn forest, and semi-arid grassland with low brush cover, typically below 1,500 m elevation. Favours areas with scattered trees and dense undergrowth for cover.

Distribution

Endemic to the Gran Chaco region of Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina. Prefers arid and semi-arid scrublands with thorny vegetation.

Diet

Seeds, berries, and insects gleaned from ground and low vegetation; intake shifts toward more fruits and seeds in dry season.

Behaviour

Primarily diurnal and crepuscular, foraging on the ground in pairs or small family groups. Runs rather than flies when flushed; calls frequently at dawn and dusk to maintain territory.

Hunting tips

Listen for characteristic calls to locate birds at dawn and dusk. Look for tracks and droppings in dust and soft ground near feeding areas. Approach slowly through thick scrub, using terrain folds to mask movement; flush birds into open ground where they tire quickly when running.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 3 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.