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-vented Oriole

Icterus wagleri

A slender Neotropical oriole characterized by its deep yellow-orange plumage and contrasting black hood, back, and namesake vent. Unlike many of its relatives, this species shows little sexual dimorphism, with both males and females sharing nearly identical patterns.

What it sounds like

A rich, varied series of liquid whistles and fluty warbles, often interspersed with harsh, raspy 'chak' or scolding 'churr' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · GuatemalaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few oriole species where males and females possess nearly identical plumage, lacking the typical sexual dichromatism found in the genus Icterus.
The species builds long, pensile nests woven from palm fibers and grasses, frequently suspended from the underside of large leaves to protect against predators.
The scientific name 'wagleri' honors Johann Georg Wagler, a German herpetologist and ornithologist who described many new species in the 1830s.
It is a frequent host for the Bronzed Cowbird, a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the oriole's nest for the host parents to raise.
While primarily insectivorous and nectar-feeding, this species is also known to consume a significant amount of fruit, particularly in agricultural settings.

Habitat

Arid to semi-humid montane scrub, pine-oak forests, and shaded plantations or suburban gardens.

Range

Highlands of Mexico through Central America, extending south to northern Nicaragua.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Altamira OrioleIcterus gularis Audubon's OrioleIcterus graduacauda Bahama OrioleIcterus northropi Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula Bar-winged OrioleIcterus maculialatus Black-backed OrioleIcterus abeillei Black-cowled OrioleIcterus prosthemelas Bullock's OrioleIcterus bullockii

Heard a Black-vented Oriole?

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