The white-bellied chachalaca is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Region
Mesoamerica
Typical Environment
Occurs on the Pacific slope and adjacent lowlands from southern Mexico through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to western Nicaragua. Prefers dry to semi-deciduous tropical forests, thorn scrub, riparian thickets, and forest edges. Common in secondary growth, wooded pastures, and agroforestry systems such as coffee and cacao plantations. Often stays in dense vegetation near watercourses and along hedgerows, moving to fruiting trees to feed.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
White-bellied chachalacas are noisy, social gamebirds that often move in small groups through forest edges and second growth. Their loud, rhythmic dawn and dusk choruses carry far and help groups keep contact. They are important seed dispersers for many native plants and readily use agroforestry habitats like coffee and cacao. Although adaptable, local populations can be pressured by hunting and habitat loss.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats followed by glides
Social Behavior
Typically travels in small family parties or loose groups, foraging quietly but breaking into loud choruses at roosting and feeding times. Nests are shallow platforms of twigs and leaves placed in low to mid-level branches. Pairs are monogamous during the breeding season, and groups may roost communally for safety.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, rhythmic chattering sequences often rendered as cha-cha-lac, given in antiphonal group choruses at dawn and dusk. Calls include harsh cackles, clucks, and alarm squawks when disturbed.
Plumage
Upperparts are olive-brown to gray-brown with a slightly scaly texture on the neck; underparts show a contrasting clean white belly and vent. The tail is long and graduated with rufous tones on the under tail coverts and paler tips. The face shows sparse bare bluish-grey skin with a pale throat.
Diet
Feeds primarily on fruits and berries from a variety of native trees and shrubs, playing a significant role in seed dispersal. Also consumes young leaves, buds, flowers, and seeds, especially when fruit is scarce. Will opportunistically take small invertebrates such as insects for additional protein.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the midstory and canopy of forest edges, along rivers, and in secondary growth. Frequently visits fruiting trees in coffee and cacao plantations as well as hedgerows in rural mosaics.
