LC
Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Least Concern
2018 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency low
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,550,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 2000000 mature individuals poor inferred 2019
Population trend stable - suspected -
Generation length 4.9 years - - -

Population justification: The global population is inferred to number 2,000,000 mature individuals (Partners in Flight 2019).

Trend justification: The population trend has not been quantified directly. The species seems to adapt well to habitat alterations and does not appear to be negatively affected by high hunting pressure (Peterson 2020); therefore, in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, the population is assessed as being stable.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Belize extant native yes
Costa Rica extant native yes
Guatemala extant native yes
Honduras extant native yes
Mexico extant native yes
Nicaragua extant native yes
USA extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Belize Belize Coastal and near shore islands
Belize Crooked Tree and associated wetlands
Belize Maya Mountains and southern reserves
Belize Northeastern Belize
Belize Rio Bravo CMA Gallon Jug Estate
Guatemala Candelaria - Campur
Guatemala Guatemalan Caribbean Slope
Guatemala Lachuá - Ik'bolay
Guatemala Maya - Lacandón
Guatemala Rio La Pasion
Guatemala Sacranix
Nicaragua Bosawas

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Subtropical/Tropical Heavily Degraded Former Forest suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Vegetation Above High Tide Level suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Moist major resident
Altitude 0 - 1850 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/plain-chachalaca-ortalis-vetula on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.