Plain Chachalaca
Plain ChachalacaPlain ChachalacaPlain ChachalacaPlain Chachalaca

Plain Chachalaca

Ortalis vetula

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
129 Verified records at Ostional Wildlife Refuge
July Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The plain chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) is a large bird in the chachalaca, guan and curassow family Cracidae. It breeds in tropical and subtropical environments from mezquital thickets in the Rio Grande Valley in southernmost Texas, United States to northernmost Costa Rica. In Central America, this species occurs in the Pacific lowlands from Chiapas, Mexico to northern Nicaragua and as a separate population in Costa Rica, where its range is separated by a short distance, as a disjunct population. This species frequents dry and moist forests, especially where interspersed with scrub and savanna. Usually found in groups of up to 15 birds, the plain chachalaca is furtive and wary and prefers to escape from danger by running swiftly on the ground or leaping and gliding through brushy tangles. The plain chachalaca feeds in trees or on the ground on fruit (figs, palms, Sapotaceae), seeds, leaves, and flowers. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Plain Chachalaca sighting in Ostional Wildlife Refuge, based on 129 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Crested Guan
NT

Crested Guan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Penelope purpurascens

Insufficient data
Great Curassow
VU Endemic

Great Curassow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crax rubra

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
20–30
Apr
20–30
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
40–50%
2 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
30–40%
3 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
20–30%
4 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
5 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
6 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
20–30%
7 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
20–30%
8 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
20–30%
9 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
10 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
11 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
12 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
10–20%
13 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
14 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
15 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
16 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
5–10%
17 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
5–10%
18 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
19 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
20 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
21 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
22 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
23 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
24 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
25 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Plain Chachalaca in Ostional Wildlife Refuge?

About 24% of wildlife watchers report a Plain Chachalaca sighting in Ostional Wildlife Refuge, based on 129 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Plain Chachalaca in Ostional Wildlife Refuge?

July has the highest sighting rate for Plain Chachalaca in Ostional Wildlife Refuge in our monthly data.

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