Rufous-vented Chachalaca
Photo: Fernando Flores from Caracas, Venezuela · CC BY-SA 2.0

Guans, Curassows, and Chachalacas

Rufous-vented Chachalaca

Ortalis ruficauda

LCLeast Concern
Family
Guans, Curassows, and Chachalacas (Cracidae)
Order
Galliformes

Overview

The rufous-vented chachalaca (Ortalis ruficauda) is a member of an ancient group of birds of the family Cracidae, which are related to the Australasian mound builders. It inhabits northeast Colombia and northern Venezuela where it is called guacharaca, and the island of Tobago in Trinidad and Tobago where it is known as the cocrico and is one of the country's two national birds (being featured on the country's coat of arms). It is also found on Bequia and Union Island in the Grenadines where it may have been introduced.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.