FAMILY CRACIDAE 305 



ORTALIS CINEREICEPS (Gray): Gray-headed Chachalaca; Faisana 



Pheasantlike with long neck, small head, and long tail ; head gray ; 

 primary feathers chestnut. 



Description. — Length 480 to 580 mm. Adults (sexes alike), head 

 and upper neck gray ; lower hindneck, wing coverts, back, rump, and 

 upper tail coverts grayish brown ; tail grayish to greenish brown, 

 tipped with dull white or buffy white ; primaries cinnamon ; second- 

 aries like back, but with inner webs cinnamon ; lower f oreneck and 

 upper breast grayish brown ; lower breast, sides, and flanks grayer ; 

 center of abdomen white to grayish white ; under tail coverts grayish 

 brown ; under wing coverts cinnamon to grayish brown. 



The faisana is the only species in its family that is able to adapt 

 to the changed conditions brought by human settlement, since it is 

 not dependent on primitive forest cover for habitat as are its rela- 

 tives. It is found throughout the tropical lowlands of the Isthmus 

 wherever there are groves or tracts of rastrojo that oflFer cover. When 

 these are cleared the birds retreat but spread again wherever thickets 

 begin to cover abandoned fields. In heavy forest the faisana ranges 

 along the more open borders of streams, or over the high tree crown, 

 as it seeks the sun rather than the deep shadows favored by many 

 forest species. They are interesting birds, graceful in movement as 

 they walk along sloping branches, and equally attractive when rest- 

 ing quietly, either standing, or with the legs bent so that the body 

 rests on some perch grasped firmly in the feet. They feed on small 

 fruits borne on the higher tree branches, and also range constantly 

 on the ground, where their presence may be indicated by scratchings 

 that often are as extensive as those made by domestic fowls. 



Faisanas are most active in early morning and late afternoon. 

 Toward the middle of the day they walk or fly back into some cover 

 where people do not regularly penetrate, and to which they return 

 quickly at any disturbance. The flight, with neck outstretched and 

 tail partly open, begins with quickly beating wings to gain momentum, 

 then a sail, the two methods alternating until they are safe behind 

 tree cover. On the ground they run rapidly with head erect and 

 partly spread tail. 



On the Pacific side they are found regularly in tracts of low, dense 

 nionte where the trees may not be more than 6 to 10 meters tall. 

 Elsewhere, in better watered sections, with tall trees, they rest 

 in early morning in the high, open branches of guarumos in the 

 warmth of the rising sun. Where they are not hunted they become 



