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

Bay-headed Tanager

Tangara gyrola

The Bay-headed Tanager is a small, vibrant Neotropical bird characterized by its deep chestnut head, bright green plumage, and golden-yellow collar. It is a social species frequently observed in the canopy as part of mixed-species foraging flocks.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin 'tsip' or 'seee' note, often delivered in a rapid, twittering series during flight or social interaction.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · EcuadorCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It displays significant subspecific variation, with some populations possessing a distinct blue or turquoise patch on the abdomen.
Unlike many other Tangara species, the Bay-headed Tanager exhibits very little sexual dimorphism, making males and females difficult to distinguish in the field.
The species is known for its acrobatic foraging style, often hanging upside down to reach small fruits or to glean insects from the underside of leaves.
There are nine recognized subspecies distributed across its wide range, differing primarily in the intensity of their yellow collars and ventral coloration.
While primarily frugivorous, they are opportunistic feeders that consume nectar and high-protein arthropods during the breeding season.

Habitat

Humid lowland forests, montane forest edges, and mature secondary growth.

Range

Central and South America, ranging from Costa Rica south to the Amazon Basin and the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Beryl-spangled TanagerTangara nigroviridis Blue-and-black TanagerTangara vassorii Blue-browed TanagerTangara cyanotis Blue-whiskered TanagerTangara johannae Brassy-breasted TanagerTangara desmaresti Emerald TanagerTangara florida Flame-faced TanagerTangara parzudakii Gilt-edged TanagerTangara cyanoventris

Heard a Bay-headed Tanager?

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