{{short description|Species of bird}} {{speciesbox | name = Rufous-vented chachalaca | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2023 |title=''Ortalis ruficauda'' |volume=2023 |article-number=e.T22678315A234028245 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T22678315A234028245.en |access-date=5 September 2024}}</ref> | image = Rufous-vented Chachalaca - Guacharaca del Norte (Ortalis ruficauda) (8629080871).jpg | image_caption = In Venezuela | genus = Ortalis | species = ruficauda | authority = Jardine, 1847

| range_map = Ortalis ruficauda map.svg

}}

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.

==Habitat== The rufous-vented chachalaca is a largely arboreal species found in forest and woodland, but it is also found in more open dry scrubby areas. This combined with relatively low hunting pressure, make it far less vulnerable than larger members of the family, notably curassows.

==Description== These are medium-sized birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys, with small heads, long strong legs and a long broad tail. They are typically 53–58&nbsp;cm long; the female weighs 540g and the larger male 640g. They have fairly dull plumage, dark brown above and paler below. The head is grey, and the brown tail is tipped rufous or white depending on race.

==Call== As other chachalacas, the rufous-vented chachalaca is a very noisy species, preferring to execute their vocal feats at dawn. The male's call is a loud low ''ka-ka-rooki-rooki-ka'', answered by the female's high-pitched ''watch-a-lak'', which they often repeat several times in a row, in precise synchronization.

{{Listen | filename = Guacharaca.ogg | title = Calls of a male and female guacharaca | description = Recorded before dawn, in Caraballeda, Venezuela. | pos = left }}

==Breeding and behaviour== The species is a social bird, often seen in family groups. It walks along branches seeking the fruit (such as mangoes, berries and those from the ''Euterpe'' palm), leaves<ref>{{cite web |website=The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago|title=''Ortalis ruficauda'' (Rufous-vented Chachalaca or Cocrico)|publisher=UWI |url=https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/documents/ogatt/Ortalis_ruficauda%20-%20Rufous-vented%20Chachalaca%20or%20Cocrico.pdf}}</ref> and seeds on which it feeds. It is an able flyer that can even take off and fly vertically, but does not usually fly long distances. The twig nest is built low in a tree, and three or four large white eggs are laid. The female incubates them alone.

==Subspecies==

There are two subspecies: * ''O. r. ruficauda'' (Jardine, 1847) - northeast Colombia to northern Venezuela, also Tobago and Isla Margarita * ''O. r. ruficrissa'' (Sclater and Salvin, 1870) - northern Colombia and northwest Venezuela

== References == {{Reflist}} *Evans, Peter (1990). ''Birds of the Eastern Caribbean''. Macmillan, {{ISBN|0-333-52155-2}} *{{cite book | last = ffrench<!--this name should not be capitalized--> | first = Richard | title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago | edition = 2nd | year = 1991 | publisher = Comstock Publishing | isbn = 0-8014-9792-2 }} * Hilty, Steven L (2003). ''Birds of Venezuela''. London: Christopher Helm. {{ISBN|0-7136-6418-5}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20001119021100/http://www.bird%2Dstamps.org/cspecies/3400400.htm Stamps] (for Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela) *[http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=893 Rufous-vented Chachalaca videos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007142817/http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=893 |date=2007-10-07 }} on the Internet Bird Collection *[http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?VIREO_SESSION_ID=9127c0e786812f2f771137de6667262e&Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=rufous-vented+chachalaca&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All Rufous-vented Chachalaca photo gallery] VIREO

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rufous-vented chachalaca Category:Birds of Venezuela Category:Birds of Trinidad and Tobago Category:Birds of the Caribbean Category:Birds of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Category:National symbols of Trinidad and Tobago rufous-vented chachalaca Category:Birds of Colombia