About Ortalis poliocephala (Wagler, 1830)
The West Mexican chachalaca, scientifically named Ortalis poliocephala (Wagler, 1830), measures 58.5 to 68.5 cm (1.9 to 2.2 ft) in length. One recorded male individual weighed 760 g (1.7 lb). Its crown and nape are a dull brownish gray, while the rest of its upperparts are pale brownish olive. The tail is slightly grayer, and its feathers have broad buff tips. The bird's breast is grayish olive, and its belly is whitish with a faint buff wash. A hazel eye is surrounded by a patch of bare carmine-colored skin. This species is found in a continuous strip of southwestern Mexico, stretching from northern Jalisco to southwestern Chiapas, and extending inland as far as southwestern Puebla. It primarily lives in mature deciduous forest, thorn scrub, and secondary forest. Locally, it occurs in pine-oak forest, and it is sometimes found in mangroves and palm plantations. Its elevation range spans from sea level up to 2,400 m (7,900 ft).
