The plain chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) is a large, slender, olive-brown game bird native to lowland thickets, forest edges, and brushy woodlands from southern Texas through Mexico and Central America, and it is the only chachalaca species found in the United States, primarily in the Rio Grande Valley. It has a long tail tipped with white or buff, a small head, a bare patch of reddish-pink skin around the throat that becomes more prominent when calling, and overall dull, unpatterned plumage that gives the species its "plain" name compared to more colorful relatives. Plain chachalacas are highly social, typically moving in noisy flocks through dense brush and trees, where they forage mainly on fruits, seeds, leaves, and buds. They are best known for their loud, raucous, repetitive calls—often rendered as "cha-cha-lac"—which are frequently given in chorus by multiple birds at dawn and dusk and can carry for long distances through the habitat. Despite being somewhat secretive and well-camouflaged, their vocalizations make them one of the most conspicuous and easily identified birds in their range.
