Speckled Chachalaca - Ortalis guttata

Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata)

Vila Bela de Santíssima Trindade, Mato Grosso, Brazil
March 2003

The Speckled Chachalaca is distributed in 3 disjunct areas: east Brazil, south-east Brazil and an area from central Colombia through the western part of the Amazon Basin and into Bolivia. It has been divided into 4 different species by some authorities but is now generally regarded as one species.

It is found in a variety of habitats. This bird was in gallery forest feeding on a Cecropia at 6:30 am.

It has a bare red throat but lacks a pronounced dewlap. Note the buff edging to the throat and breast feathers which give the "speckled" appearance.

There is an illustration in HBW, Volume 2, Page 342.

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