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Plain chachalaca        Images © Mark A. Chappell

The plain chachalaca is a bird of Mexico and Central America and in the US it occurs only in the lower Rio Grande Valley.   Where it does occur it is extremely conspicuous because of its large size, long tail, and (especially) its raucous loud calls -- the source of its unusual common name.   These were photographed at Sabal Palm Sanctuary near Brownsville and Bentsen-Rio Grande state park, both in south Texas.

  • Canon 10D or 1D4; 500 mm IS lens or 800 mm IS lens (one with 70-200 f4 IS zoom), electronic flash (2003, 2104)