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-headed Oropendola

Psarocolius wagleri

A large, social icterid known for its striking chestnut hood and the construction of long, pendulous woven nests in colonial trees.

What it sounds like

A liquid, gurgling 'glub-glub' followed by a series of mechanical pops, rattles, and crashing sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:12

Rec. Peter Boesman · GuatemalaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Females weave elaborate hanging nests made of fibers and vines that can reach up to 1 meter in length.
Males are significantly larger than females and perform a dramatic display by bowing forward until nearly upside down while vocalizing.
The species often tolerates Giant Cowbirds in their colonies because the cowbirds eat botfly larvae that would otherwise kill the oropendola chicks.
Their tails are bright yellow with the exception of the two central feathers, which are dark brown or black.
They are highly colonial, with a single 'alpha' male often dominating the mating rights within a nesting tree.

Habitat

Humid lowland forest canopies, edges, and old plantations.

Range

Southern Mexico through Central America to northwestern Colombia and western Ecuador.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baudo OropendolaPsarocolius cassini Black OropendolaPsarocolius guatimozinus Crested OropendolaPsarocolius decumanus Dusky-green OropendolaPsarocolius atrovirens Green OropendolaPsarocolius viridis Montezuma OropendolaPsarocolius montezuma Olive OropendolaPsarocolius bifasciatus Russet-backed OropendolaPsarocolius angustifrons

Heard a Chestnut-headed Oropendola?

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