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

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

A medium-sized, social woodpecker recognized by its distinct clown-like facial markings and unique communal food-storing behavior.

What it sounds like

A loud, nasal, and rhythmic 'waka-waka-waka' or 'ja-cob, ja-cob' call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ed Pandolfino · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They drill thousands of precisely sized holes into 'granary trees' to store acorns, which they defend collectively.
They live in complex social groups where multiple individuals help raise the offspring of breeding adults.
Acorn Woodpeckers are skilled flycatchers, often launching from high perches to capture insects in mid-air.
Their mating system is highly complex, frequently involving cooperative polyandry and polygynandry within the group.
Granary trees are passed down through generations, with some trees containing over 50,000 individual storage holes.

Habitat

Oak and pine-oak woodlands featuring multiple oak species to ensure stable annual acorn crops.

Range

Coastal and montane regions from Oregon and California through Mexico and Central America to Colombia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Beautiful WoodpeckerMelanerpes pulcher Black-cheeked WoodpeckerMelanerpes pucherani Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialis Golden-cheeked WoodpeckerMelanerpes chrysogenys Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifrons Golden-naped WoodpeckerMelanerpes chrysauchen Gray-breasted WoodpeckerMelanerpes hypopolius Guadeloupe WoodpeckerMelanerpes herminieri

Heard a Acorn Woodpecker?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song