chachalaca

chachalaca (chah-chuh-LAH-kuh, chah-chah-LAH-kah) - n., any of several galliform New World birds (genus Ortalis) somewhat resembling slender, arboreal turkeys.


Roughly 17 species, ranging from the Rio Grande valley south. They are social birds, traveling in small flocks, and several species are pests to farmers -- and several are hunted as game. The name comes from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl chachalacametl, onomatopoetic of the four-note cry of the plain chachalaca (Ortalis vetula). This guy:


Thanks, WikiMedia!


And that's the end of another week of birds. Are there more in my queue? -- you'll have to wait to find out. But next week, regardless, is the regular hodgepodge.

---L.