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

Citron-headed Yellow-Finch

Sicalis luteocephala

A medium-sized tanager-finch of the high Andes, easily identified by the male's vibrant yellow head contrasting with its greyish-olive body.

What it sounds like

A rapid, buzzy series of musical chirps and trills, often delivered from a rock perch or during a short display flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:58

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

Field notes

Exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism, where females lack the bright yellow hood and appear more olive-grey and streaked.
Primarily inhabits high-altitude puna and temperate zones, typically ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 meters in elevation.
Frequently found foraging on the ground in small groups, often associating with other seed-eating species like the Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch.
Unlike many open-nesting finches, it often utilizes protected cavities such as rock crevices or holes in stone walls for nesting.
Despite its common name and finch-like beak, taxonomic classification places it within the family Thraupidae, making it a tanager.

Habitat

Rocky slopes, high-altitude shrubland, and traditional agricultural areas with stone walls.

Range

Central Andes, specifically across southern Peru, Bolivia, and northern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bright-rumped Yellow-FinchSicalis uropygialis Grassland Yellow-FinchSicalis luteola Greater Yellow-FinchSicalis auriventris Greenish Yellow-FinchSicalis olivascens Monte Yellow-FinchSicalis mendozae Orange-fronted Yellow-FinchSicalis columbiana Patagonian Yellow-FinchSicalis lebruni Puna Yellow-FinchSicalis lutea

Heard a Citron-headed Yellow-Finch?

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