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 Gnatcatcher

Polioptila nigriceps

A small, active insectivore of the desert southwest and Mexico, distinguished by the breeding male's striking black crown.

What it sounds like

Thin, wheezy, high-pitched 'zee-yu' notes and a soft, descending buzzy song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 10:43

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

Field notes

Breeding males possess a deep black cap that extends significantly below the eye, unlike the similar Black-tailed Gnatcatcher.
During the non-breeding season, males molt their namesake black cap and become difficult to distinguish from females and juveniles.
In the United States, this species is considered a rare and local specialty, restricted primarily to specific canyons in southeastern Arizona.
They construct delicate, deep-cup nests using spider silk and lichens to provide structural integrity and camouflage.
The species is highly active, frequently fanning its white-edged tail and flicking its wings to flush small insects from dense foliage.

Habitat

Arid thorn forests, desert scrub, and riparian thickets.

Range

Western Mexico and extreme southeastern Arizona.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-tailed GnatcatcherPolioptila melanura Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea California GnatcatcherPolioptila californica Creamy-bellied GnatcatcherPolioptila lactea Cuban GnatcatcherPolioptila lembeyei Guianan GnatcatcherPolioptila guianensis Inambari GnatcatcherPolioptila attenboroughi Iquitos GnatcatcherPolioptila clementsi

Heard a Black-capped Gnatcatcher?

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