It was considered a subspecies of the little chachalaca. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the speckled chachalaca. " The common name derives from the Nahuatl verb "chachalaca", meaning "to chatter. It was previously considered a subspecies of the speckled chachalaca. Fauna include wild boar, coyote, badger, rabbit, armadillo, chachalaca and buzzard. Wild fauna include wild boar, coyote, rabbit, opossum, armadillo, dove, chachalaca and rook. The remains of a chachalaca were noted in one nest. The fauna consists of birds such as the tzutzuy, quail, and dove, chachalaca. The chestnut-headed chachalaca was considered a subspecies. The plain chachalaca typically breeds in the early wet season. Wild fauna include coyote, opossum, raccoon, hare, chachalaca, dove, quail, armadillo, iguana and rabbit. The Chaco chachalaca ("Ortalis canicollis") is a species of bird in the family Cracidae. The speckled chachalaca ("Ortalis guttata") is a species of bird in the family Cracidae. The scaled chachalaca ("Ortalis squamata") is a species of bird in the family Cracidae. The Colombian chachalaca ("Ortalis columbiana") is a species of bird in the family Cracidae.