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

Bar-crested Antshrike

Thamnophilus multistriatus

A striking Andean antbird defined by its dense horizontal barring and a prominent, erectile crest used in territorial displays.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, accelerating series of nasal 'wuk' notes that typically ends with a singular, emphasized lower note.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Joost van Bruggen · ColombiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays strong sexual dimorphism: males are barred black and white, while females possess a conspicuous rufous crown and nape.
Unlike many of its relatives, it is relatively well-adapted to human-altered landscapes, including coffee plantations and suburban gardens.
Primarily insectivorous, it forages by gleaning prey from foliage in the mid-story rather than following army ant swarms.
Pairs are known to be monogamous and frequently perform duets to reinforce pair bonds and defend their territory.
The nest is a deep, thin-walled cup suspended by its rim from a horizontal fork in a branch, typically hidden in dense cover.

Habitat

Arid to humid scrub, deciduous woodlands, forest edges, and second-growth thickets.

Range

Andean foothills and highlands of Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Acre AntshrikeThamnophilus divisorius Amazonian AntshrikeThamnophilus amazonicus Band-tailed AntshrikeThamnophilus melanothorax Barred AntshrikeThamnophilus doliatus Black AntshrikeThamnophilus nigriceps Black-backed AntshrikeThamnophilus melanonotus Black-crowned AntshrikeThamnophilus atrinucha Black-hooded AntshrikeThamnophilus bridgesi

Heard a Bar-crested Antshrike?

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