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

Black-capped Becard

Pachyramphus marginatus

A small, stocky suboscine passerine of the Amazonian canopy, characterized by its prominent sexual dimorphism and namesake glossy black crown in males.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched, and slightly mournful series of descending whistles, often transcribed as 'tsee-tsee-tsee-uuu'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:09

Rec. JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays extreme sexual dimorphism; males are primarily gray while females have bright rufous upperparts and a buffy-yellow belly.
Constructs large, globular nests made of moss and fibers that hang conspicuously from high tree branches.
Commonly joins mixed-species foraging flocks, moving through the canopy to hunt for insects and small fruits.
Taxonomically placed in the Tityridae family, though it was historically grouped with cotingas or tyrant flycatchers.
The species is largely non-migratory, remaining in its tropical lowland territory throughout the year.

Habitat

Humid lowland evergreen forests and terra firme forest canopies.

Range

The Amazon Basin of South America, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and the Guyanas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Barred BecardPachyramphus versicolor Black-and-white BecardPachyramphus albogriseus Chestnut-crowned BecardPachyramphus castaneus Cinereous BecardPachyramphus rufus Cinnamon BecardPachyramphus cinnamomeus Crested BecardPachyramphus validus Cryptic BecardPachyramphus salvini Glossy-backed BecardPachyramphus surinamus

Heard a Black-capped Becard?

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