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

Chestnut-crowned Becard

Pachyramphus castaneus

A small, predominantly rufous passerine found in South American forests, notable for its lack of sexual dimorphism compared to other becards.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin, descending series of clear whistles, typically sounding like 'tsee-tsee-tsee-tseee-tseeeu'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:08

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

Field notes

It is one of the few Pachyramphus species where males and females possess nearly identical plumage.
The species constructs large, globular nests made of moss and dry leaves with a circular side entrance.
It primarily feeds on insects gleaned from foliage or caught in flight, supplemented by small berries.
Taxonomically, it belongs to the Tityridae family, which was historically grouped with cotingas and manakins.
It is known to frequently join mixed-species foraging flocks in the canopy and sub-canopy levels.

Habitat

Humid lowland forests, forest edges, and mature secondary growth.

Range

Widespread across South America, including the Amazon Basin and the Atlantic Forest.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Barred BecardPachyramphus versicolor Black-and-white BecardPachyramphus albogriseus Black-capped BecardPachyramphus marginatus Cinereous BecardPachyramphus rufus Cinnamon BecardPachyramphus cinnamomeus Crested BecardPachyramphus validus Cryptic BecardPachyramphus salvini Glossy-backed BecardPachyramphus surinamus

Heard a Chestnut-crowned Becard?

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