Plain Chachalaca – Salineno, TX

During a visit to Salineño, Texas we were lucky to get great looks at a Plain Chachalaca. A group of them were moving quietly through dense brush near the Rio Grande. This species, Ortalis vetula, belongs to the Cracidae family which also has Guans and Currasow’s. They thrive in thornscrub habitats of South Texas. Its olive-brown body, long tail, and bare gray head contrasted with the bright red throat patch seen clearly in this view. Plain Chachalacas are known for their loud, chaotic dawn calls, often heard before sunrise across border woodlands. Chachalaca comes from the translated Aztecan word, “chatter.” These birds play a role in seed dispersal, supporting ecosystem balance in subtropical riparian corridors. South Texas remains a key staple for birders in the US and this “Mexican Tree Pheasant.”