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

Andean Flicker

Colaptes rupicola

The Andean Flicker is a large, ground-dwelling woodpecker uniquely adapted to the treeless, high-altitude environments of the Andes mountains. It is easily recognized by its barred plumage and its unusual habit of nesting in earthen burrows rather than trees.

What it sounds like

A loud, ringing series of 'kwee-kwee-kwee' notes and sharp, metallic 'kew' alarm calls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Cristian Pinto · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Primarily terrestrial, it spends the majority of its time foraging on the ground for ants, beetles, and larvae.
Unlike most woodpeckers, it excavates nesting burrows in dirt banks, road cuts, or crevices in stone walls.
The species is notably social and is frequently observed in small family groups or loose colonies.
It thrives at extreme elevations, commonly found between 2,000 and 5,000 meters above sea level.
Males are distinguished by a bright red malar (mustache) stripe, whereas the female's stripe is typically blackish or absent.

Habitat

High-altitude grasslands (Puna and Páramo), rocky slopes, and agricultural fields above the treeline.

Range

The Andes of South America, from southern Colombia and Ecuador through Peru and Bolivia to northern Chile and Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bermuda FlickerColaptes oceanicus Black-necked WoodpeckerColaptes atricollis Campo FlickerColaptes campestris Chilean FlickerColaptes pitius Crimson-mantled WoodpeckerColaptes rivolii Fernandina's FlickerColaptes fernandinae Gilded FlickerColaptes chrysoides Golden-olive WoodpeckerColaptes rubiginosus

Heard a Andean Flicker?

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