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 Caracara

Daptrius ater

A highly social, glossy-black falconid of the Amazonian lowlands frequently observed near watercourses and forest edges. It is distinctive for its bare, bright yellow face and its unique symbiotic cleaning behaviors.

What it sounds like

A harsh, piercing, and repetitive 'kraaaa-kraaaa-kraaaa' or a loud, raspy screech.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:12

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

Field notes

Engages in a symbiotic relationship with large mammals like capybaras and tapirs by picking ticks and parasites off their skin.
Unlike most raptors, it is largely omnivorous, consuming carrion, insects, and fish alongside palm fruits and other vegetation.
It is the sole member of its genus, Daptrius, since the Red-throated Caracara was moved to Ibycter.
Groups are often found following giant otters or human travelers along rivers to scavenge disturbed prey or discarded scraps.
Its flight style is unusually slow and direct for a falconid, characterized by shallow wingbeats and long glides.

Habitat

Tropical lowland forest, specifically along riverbanks, lake margins, and gallery forests.

Range

The Amazon Basin of South America, spanning across Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Carunculated CaracaraDaptrius carunculatus Chimango CaracaraDaptrius chimango Mountain CaracaraDaptrius megalopterus Striated CaracaraDaptrius australis White-throated CaracaraDaptrius albogularis Yellow-headed CaracaraDaptrius chimachima

Heard a Black Caracara?

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