How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

Colombian Chachalaca

Ortalis columbiana

A social, medium-sized cracid endemic to the Andean valleys of Colombia, known for its distinctive scaled plumage and raucous group vocalizations.

What it sounds like

A loud, rhythmic, four-syllable 'cha-cha-la-ca' often performed in synchronized duets or choruses.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · ColombiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Speckled Chachalaca (Ortalis guttata) before being elevated to species status.
The species is distinguished by prominent white scalloping on the feathers of the neck and chest.
Unlike many other members of the Craciadae family, it is highly adaptable to human-modified landscapes and urban gardens.
They are typically seen in groups of 4 to 10 individuals, moving through the mid-to-upper canopy in search of food.
The Colombian Chachalaca is a key seed disperser in its native habitat, primarily consuming fruits, berries, and occasionally leaves.

Habitat

Humid and dry forest edges, secondary growth woodlands, and shaded coffee plantations.

Range

Endemic to the Magdalena and Cauca river valleys in the Colombian Andes.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Buff-browed ChachalacaOrtalis superciliaris Chaco ChachalacaOrtalis canicollis Chestnut-headed ChachalacaOrtalis ruficeps Chestnut-winged ChachalacaOrtalis garrula East Brazilian ChachalacaOrtalis araucuan Gray-headed ChachalacaOrtalis cinereiceps Plain ChachalacaOrtalis vetula Rufous-bellied ChachalacaOrtalis wagleri

Heard a Colombian Chachalaca?

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