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 Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

North America's largest pigeon, the Band-tailed Pigeon is a forest-dwelling columbid identified by a white crescent on the nape and a wide, pale grey band at the tail's tip.

What it sounds like

A low-pitched, owl-like 'whoo-whoo' or 'hoo-uh-hoo' with a hooting quality.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Richard E. Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the closest living relative to the extinct Passenger Pigeon.
Unlike most birds, it can drink water by suction without needing to tilt its head back to swallow.
The species is highly nomadic, frequently traveling long distances to locate mineral springs or 'salt licks' to supplement its diet.
Nesting is exceptionally minimalist, often consisting of a fragile platform of sticks so thin the single egg is visible from below.
They are primary consumers of acorns, which can make up over 90% of their diet during autumn and winter months.

Habitat

Montane coniferous forests, oak woodlands, and temperate rainforests.

Range

Western North America from British Columbia through Mexico and Central America into the Andes of South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bare-eyed PigeonPatagioenas corensis Chilean PigeonPatagioenas araucana Dusky PigeonPatagioenas goodsoni Pale-vented PigeonPatagioenas cayennensis Peruvian PigeonPatagioenas oenops Picazuro PigeonPatagioenas picazuro Plain PigeonPatagioenas inornata Plumbeous PigeonPatagioenas plumbea

Heard a Band-tailed Pigeon?

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