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

Blue-and-black Tanager

Tangara vassorii

A high-altitude Andean tanager characterized by its deep cobalt-blue body and contrasting black mask, wings, and tail.

What it sounds like

Thin, high-pitched metallic 'tsip' calls and a rapid, squeaky series of twittering notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:04

Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · EcuadorCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the highest-ranging members of the genus Tangara, often found reaching the timberline in elfin forests.
The species frequently serves as a nuclear member of mixed-species foraging flocks in the cloud forest canopy.
While primarily frugivorous, it is an active insectivore that gleans prey from moss-covered branches and foliage.
Three distinct subspecies are recognized across its range, showing subtle variations in plumage tone and size.
Unlike many other Tangara species, it lacks strong sexual dimorphism, making males and females difficult to distinguish in the field.

Habitat

Humid montane forests, elfin forests, and forest edges at elevations typically between 2,000 and 3,500 meters.

Range

The Andes mountains of South America, spanning from Venezuela and Colombia south to Bolivia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bay-headed TanagerTangara gyrola Beryl-spangled TanagerTangara nigroviridis Blue-browed TanagerTangara cyanotis Blue-whiskered TanagerTangara johannae Brassy-breasted TanagerTangara desmaresti Emerald TanagerTangara florida Flame-faced TanagerTangara parzudakii Gilt-edged TanagerTangara cyanoventris

Heard a Blue-and-black Tanager?

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