Plain Chachalaca or Wild Turkey?

Here's how to tell the difference

Plain Chachalaca

Ortalis vetula

How to recognise a plain chachalaca?

General appearance

The Plain Chachalaca bears a size resembling a Crow or a Mallard. It has a massive structure, having a length of 18-21 inches and a wingspan of approximately 26 inches. Characterized by a small head and large, long tail feathers, the bird predominantly carries an olive-brown hue which progressively becomes grayer on the head and buff on the belly. The tail feathers are black, contrasting with white tips. It also may display hints of red on the throat area.

Male vs female

Generally, male and female Plain Chachalacas appear quite similar, making it challenging to distinguish between the sexes based on physical traits. However, males sometimes may carry a slightly more vibrant red coloration on the throat area compared to females, especially during the mating season. Detailed scrutiny or behavioral observation may be required for accurate sex determination.

Juvenile

Juvenile Chachalacas bear a resemblance to the adults, though they may be slightly smaller in size. Their coloration may seem less vibrant as they generally exhibit a duller plumage. The characteristic red on the throat area may also be underdeveloped or absent during early stages of growth.

Size

18.9 - 22.8 in/11.2 - 24.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The plain chachalaca is typically found in south Texas, preferring subtropical woodlands around water bodies like ponds, resacas, and riverbanks. They commonly inhabit native woodlands of ebony, hackberry, huisache, and mesquite.

Additional range

Apart from their primary habitat, plain chachalacas can occasionally be found around edges of overgrown orchards and in the well-wooded suburbs of Rio Grande Valley towns.

Range Map

What do plain chachalacas like to eat?

Natural diet

The plain chachalaca primarily consumes a vegetarian diet, particularly in south Texas. Its natural food sources include various parts of plants such as berries, leaves, buds, seeds, and flowers. Notably, it feeds on the berries of coyotillo, pigeonberry, and hackberry, among others. Though predominantly plant-eaters, they occasionally consume insects and snails.

Bird feeders

In areas where plain chachalacas are accustomed to human presence, especially in specific parks, they often come to feeders for additional food. They are known to eat birdseed and might also consume items like popcorn, bread, and other types of food considered junk food.

What does a plain chachalaca sound like?

The plain chachalaca produces loud, raucous cha-cha-lac calls that can be heard often at dawn and dusk. These calls are typically produced in chorus, with the male's call being lower pitched than the female's. In terms of call pattern, it is simple and flat, often with a falling tone. The call type is a mixture of croak/quack and raucous sounds.

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

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Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

How to recognise a wild turkey?

General appearance

Wild turkeys are large birds, equivalent in size to a heron, with distinct coloration patterns of black, brown, green, red, and white. Their bodies portray a robust depiction, including big heads and long, wide tails. An identifying characteristic is their tendency to have bare heads, irrespective of gender. Another distinguishing feature is their broad, fingered, rounded, short wings and long, rounded, square-tipped tails.

Male vs female

When it comes to gender differences, male wild turkeys, also known as 'gobblers', are larger in size, standing at around 1.2 meters and flaunt more striking coloration patterns than females. In contrast, female wild turkeys, known as 'hens', are smaller - approximately 91 cm tall and exhibit more subdued coloring, making them less noticeable. Males are generally more robust and announce a trimmer and stronger build than females.

Juvenile

Young wild turkeys, also known as 'poults', are comparatively smaller and duller in coloration compared to adult male turkeys. Much like the females, juvenile males do not exhibit the vibrant colors of their mature counterparts. Yet over time, as they grow, their colors become pronounced, displaying the adult color patterns.

Size

29.5 - 47.2 in/127.0 - 335.1 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Wild turkeys are typically found in woods, mountain forests, and swamps. They are often located near oaks as acorns are their preferred food. Their ideal habitat includes a mix of woodland and open clearings.

Additional range

Turkeys can adapt to different environments across the continent including oak-hickory forests, pine-oak forests, cypress swamps, arid mesquite grasslands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and chaparral.

Range Map

What do wild turkeys like to eat?

Natural diet

Wild turkeys are omnivorous, consuming a varied diet that changes with the seasons. Primarily, they eat plant material such as acorns, leaves, seeds, grains, berries, buds, grass blades, roots, and bulbs. Their diet is supplemented with various insects, spiders, snails, and occasionally small animals like frogs, lizards, snakes, salamanders, and crabs.

Bird feeders

While wild turkeys may visit backyard bird feeders, the types of food they most often consume there include seeds, grains, and occasionally berries if they are available. They are known to scratch the ground for any food that may have fallen from feeders.

What does a wild turkey sound like?

The wild turkey's vocalizations are distinct and diverse, resembling gobbling calls of their domestic counterparts. The call pattern usually starts high then drops flat, illustrating both diversity and intensity. The types of calls exhibited by the wildlife creature are somewhat unusual, as they exhibit rattling sounds and even seemingly alarming screams, contributing to their unique vocal repertoire.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Plain Chachalaca

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Wild Turkey

Plain Chachalaca

Ortalis vetula

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

18.9 - 22.8 in/11.2 - 24.2 oz

There's more to learn about Plain Chachalaca

View full details

Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

General appearance

Male vs female

Juvenile

Size

29.5 - 47.2 in/127.0 - 335.1 oz

There's more to learn about Wild Turkey

View full details

How to tell the Plain Chachalaca from the Wild Turkey

Visual differences

Plain Chachalacas are crow-sized with olive-brown plumage, grayer heads, buff bellies, and a distinguishing long tail with black and white-tipped feathers. They have a small head and may show a hint of red on the throat. Wild Turkeys are much larger, heron-sized, exhibiting a blend of black, brown, green, red, and white plumage with a more robust body. They have bare heads and broad, rounded tails. Key differences include the Wild Turkey's larger size, more vivid plumage, and distinctive bare head compared to the plainer, smaller Chachalaca.

Key differences and behavior

The Plain Chachalaca (18-21 inches long) is often found in pairs or flocks, vocalizing loudly during early mornings or evenings, and lives in subtropical woodlands near water in south Texas. They mainly eat plant material, occasionally consuming insects. Their courtship involves vocal displays, and they nest in trees about 4-15 feet high. In contrast, the Wild Turkey (30-47 inches long) is found in various environments, favoring woodlands with clearings, where they engage in elaborate male displays to attract multiple females. Turkeys nest on the ground and have a more omnivorous diet, including plants and small animals. While Chachalacas are skilled climbers, Wild Turkeys are better ground foragers and may interact with other animals.

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