Plain Chachalaca

The chachalaca is a chicken like bird found in Mexico and Central America. They do range as far north as southern Texas, making them the only member of the Cracidae family found in the United States. Unlike many other chicken type of bird plain chachalaca are often found in the trees gleaning fruit, which is primarily what they eat, from the branches. This helps them to avoid some of the animals on the ground which may present problems such as javelina and rattle snakes. I photographed this chahcalaca at the Martin Refuge in south Texas.