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-headed Vireo

Vireo solitarius

A distinctive songbird of northern forests, the Blue-headed Vireo is recognized by its slate-blue hood, white 'spectacles,' and sluggish foraging behavior.

What it sounds like

A series of slow, clear, whistled phrases with rising and falling inflections, often described as 'question-and-answer' style.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:24

Rec. Scott Olmstead · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly conspecific with the Cassin's and Plumbeous Vireos under the collective name 'Solitary Vireo' until 1997.
Among its genus, it is one of the earliest migrants to arrive on northern breeding grounds in the spring.
Unlike many passerines, both the male and female participate in incubation and the male often sings while sitting on the nest.
They are primarily insectivorous, often using a 'hover-glean' technique to take prey from the undersides of leaves.
The nest is a delicate, hanging cup constructed from bark strips, grasses, and spider silk, often decorated with lichen.

Habitat

Cool, moist mixed-evergreen and deciduous forests, frequently associated with hemlock and pine.

Range

Breeds across Canada and the northeastern U.S. south through the Appalachians; winters in the southeastern U.S. and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Blue-headed 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