Chachalacas are mainly brown birds in the genus Ortalis. These birds are found in wooded habitats in far southern United States, Mexico, Central and South America. They are social, can be very noisy and often remain fairly common even near humans, as their relatively small size makes them less desirable to hunters than their larger relatives. They somewhat resemble the guans, and the two have commonly been placed in a subfamily together, though the chachalacas are probably closer to the curassows.
The generic name is derived from the Greek word όρταλις, meaning domestic hen. The common name is an onomatopoeia for the four-noted cackle of the Plain Chachalaca.

Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula
Grey-headed Chachalaca, Ortalis cinereiceps
Chestnut-winged Chachalaca, Ortalis garrula
Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Ortalis ruficauda
Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Ortalis erythroptera
Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, Ortalis wagleri
West Mexican Chachalaca, Ortalis poliocephala
Chaco Chachalaca, Ortalis canicollis
White-bellied Chachalaca, Ortalis leucogastra
Colombian Chachalaca, Ortalis columbiana
Speckled Chachalaca, Ortalis guttata
East Brazilian Chachalaca, Ortalis araucuan
Scaled Chachalaca, Ortalis squamata
Little Chachalaca, Ortalis motmot
Buff-browed Chachalaca, Ortalis superciliaris