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-whiskered Vireo

Vireo altiloquus

The Black-whiskered Vireo is a tropical songbird of the Caribbean and southern Florida, recognized by its distinctive dark 'mustache' stripes and red eyes.

What it sounds like

A repetitive series of short, abrupt whistling phrases often transcribed as 'John-to-the-whit' or 'whip-tom-kelly,' with longer pauses between phrases than the Red-eyed Vireo.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Denis Dujardin · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named for the thin, dark malar stripe (or 'whisker') extending down from the base of the bill on both sides of the throat.
The species is a frequent host for the brood-parasitic Shiny Cowbird, which often replaces the vireo's eggs with its own.
While it primarily gleans insects and spiders from foliage, it incorporates a high percentage of small fruits and berries into its diet during migration.
It is closely related to the Red-eyed Vireo but possesses a larger, heavier bill and a more deliberate, slower singing pace.
Populations breeding in Florida and the northern Caribbean are migratory, spending the winter months in the Amazon basin of South America.

Habitat

Mangrove forests, coastal scrub, and tropical broadleaf woodlands.

Range

Breeds in southern Florida and the West Indies; winters in northern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bell's VireoVireo bellii Black-capped VireoVireo atricapilla 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-whiskered Vireo?

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