chachalaca

noun

cha·​cha·​la·​ca

ˌchächəˈläkə

plural -s

: any of several large chiefly arboreal guans of Ortalis and related genera that somewhat resemble wild turkeys but are longer legged and have a well-developed feathered crest, that are native to Central America and Mexico with one variety (O. vetula macalli) extending into southern Texas, and that are highly regarded as game birds

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl, twittering of a bird, of imitative origin

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