This chachalaca occurs south of the Amazon River in Brazil. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of O. motmot, O. m. ruficeps; a 2020 paper presents evidence for species status. It is found mostly in riverine habitats.
Compared with O. motmot, it is smaller and lighter, and the border of the outer tail feathers is dark olive-brown rather than reddish.
Ortalis ruficeps inhabits riverine environments south of the Amazon in Brazil’s Pará and Mato Grosso states.
A2020 study found smaller body measurements than northern O.motmot, even accounting for sex differences.
Differences in song, morphology and range supported recognition as a separate species.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The2020 study describes riverine distribution and local abundance. Resolving species limits and mapping occurrences provides a basis for identifying conservation units and habitats.