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

Band-tailed Cacique

Cacicus latirostris

The Band-tailed Cacique is a distinctive, large icterid of the western Amazon basin, easily recognized by its pale tail band and unique bushy crest.

What it sounds like

A varied repertoire of liquid gurgles, dry rattles, and mechanical-sounding wheezes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. GABRIEL LEITE · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is often placed in its own genus, Ocyalus, due to its unique swollen bill base and frontal shield.
The species possesses a long, hair-like nuchal crest that it can erect during social displays.
A broad, pale yellowish-white band across the base of the tail is highly conspicuous during flight.
They are colonial nesters that weave long, pendulous bags often situated near active wasp nests for protection.
Unlike many other caciques, the iris is typically dark or reddish-brown rather than bright yellow or blue.

Habitat

Seasonally flooded varzea forests and humid lowland river edges.

Range

Western Amazon basin, covering parts of Ecuador, Peru, northern Bolivia, western Brazil, and southern Colombia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Casqued CaciqueCacicus oseryi Ecuadorian CaciqueCacicus sclateri Golden-winged CaciqueCacicus chrysopterus Mountain CaciqueCacicus chrysonotus Red-rumped CaciqueCacicus haemorrhous Scarlet-rumped CaciqueCacicus uropygialis Selva CaciqueCacicus koepckeae Solitary Black CaciqueCacicus solitarius

Heard a Band-tailed Cacique?

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