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

Gray-headed Chachalaca

Ortalis cinereiceps

A medium-sized, social galliform characterized by its slate-gray head, olive-brown plumage, and long, dark-tipped tail. It is a noisy, primarily arboreal bird common in the thickets of Central America.

What it sounds like

A loud, raucous, and rhythmic 'chack-a-laka' or 'rawk-rawk-rawk' often delivered in a boisterous group chorus.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sue Riffe · PanamaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is highly social and typically forages in noisy family groups of 6 to 12 individuals.
Unlike many related gamebirds, it is largely arboreal and often seen running along branches rather than flying.
The species was formerly considered a subspecies of the Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula).
Its diet is primarily frugivorous, consisting of berries and small fruits, supplemented by leaves and flowers.
Nests are relatively small, saucer-shaped structures built of twigs and vines, often hidden in dense foliage 1-3 meters above the ground.

Habitat

Secondary growth, forest edges, scrubby woodland, and thickets in humid lowlands.

Range

Central America, ranging from eastern Honduras south to northwestern Colombia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Gray-headed Chachalaca?

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