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

Cattle Tyrant

Machetornis rixosa

A distinctive, ground-dwelling tyrant flycatcher known for its commensal relationship with large mammals.

What it sounds like

A rapid, thin, and squeaky series of high-pitched twittering notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:14

Rec. JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Frequently perches on the backs of livestock or capybaras to capture insects flushed by their movement.
Unlike most flycatchers, it is highly terrestrial and hunts by running swiftly across open ground.
Known to be a 'nest pirate,' often usurping the enclosed mud nests of Rufous Horneros.
Actively expanding its range northward into Central America due to deforestation and urbanization.
Its specific epithet 'rixosa' translates to 'quarrelsome,' referring to its aggressive territorial behavior.

Habitat

Open country, including savannas, pastures, lawns, and urban parks.

Range

Widespread across South America and southern Central America, notably in Argentina, Brazil, and Panama.

Heard a Cattle Tyrant?

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