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 Vireo

Vireo atricapilla

A small, striking songbird recognized by its bold black hood and contrasting white spectacles, specializing in dense scrubland environments.

What it sounds like

A hurried and harsh series of two- or three-note phrases, often sounding jerky and inquisitive.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sue Riffe · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males exhibit a jet-black cap and face, whereas females possess a slightly duller slate-gray head.
The species was heavily impacted by brood parasitism from Brown-headed Cowbirds, leading to significant population declines.
They were removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List in 2018 following successful conservation and habitat management efforts.
Nests are delicate, open cups suspended by the rims from the forks of low-hanging branches, usually within a few feet of the ground.
Unlike many other vireos, they are almost exclusively insectivorous during the breeding season, targeting caterpillars and small beetles.

Habitat

Low, shrubby thickets of oak and sumac with a patchy, open canopy and dense foliage near the ground.

Range

Breeds in Oklahoma, Texas, and northern Mexico; migrates to wintering grounds along the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bell's VireoVireo bellii Black-whiskered VireoVireo altiloquus Blue Mountain VireoVireo osburni Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius Brown-capped VireoVireo leucophrys Cassin's VireoVireo cassinii Chivi VireoVireo chivi Choco VireoVireo masteri

Heard a Black-capped Vireo?

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