Meet Our June Bird of the Month, the Plain Chachalaca

Here's another one of our "exclusive" Valley birds: the Rio Grande Valley is the only place in the U.S. where you can see this "tropical chicken," one of our most interesting year-round residents.

 

Fun Facts

• When you're in or near our native thorn forest, listen for its raucous, hoarse calls. You'll likely hear the birds before you see them. Learn their calls on the Cornell Lab site. 
• Their calls can signal a change in the weather, like an approaching storm.
• Plain Chachalacas are the only species in the bird family Cracidae to range north into the U.S. Over-hunting has left many of their fellow species endangered.

Learn more on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology site.

 

How to Attract

• Plant native trees and shrubs in your yard.

• They don't typically eat from feeders, but will enjoy cracked corn spread on the ground.

• They'll also go for fruit, such as mangoes, grapes, and persimmons.

• Put out a bird bath or other water source.

  

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