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

Cape May Warbler

Setophaga tigrina

A distinctive wood-warbler known for its tiger-like streaking and specialized role as a spruce budworm predator in boreal forests.

What it sounds like

A very high-pitched, thin, and repetitive 'seet-seet-seet-seet' that can be difficult for human ears to detect.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. FREDERIC Lionel · CubaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses a unique, semi-tubular tongue that allows it to drink nectar and sap, a rare adaptation among wood-warblers.
Its population levels are highly cyclical, fluctuating dramatically in response to outbreaks of the spruce budworm.
The species name 'tigrina' is Latin for 'tiger-like,' referring to the male's dense black ventral streaking over a yellow breast.
Typically forages and nests in the very tops of tall coniferous trees, making it difficult to spot despite its bright plumage.
During the winter in the Caribbean, it becomes highly territorial and will aggressively defend nectar sources from other birds.

Habitat

Mature boreal coniferous forests, particularly stands of spruce and fir.

Range

Breeds across the Canadian boreal forest and northern U.S. border; winters primarily in the West Indies.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Adelaide's WarblerSetophaga adelaidae American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla Arrowhead WarblerSetophaga pharetra Bahama WarblerSetophaga flavescens Barbuda WarblerSetophaga subita Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens Black-throated Gray WarblerSetophaga nigrescens

Heard a Cape May Warbler?

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