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

Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher

Polioptila lactea

A small, active insectivore of the South American Atlantic Forest, distinguished by its pale yellowish underparts and restless foraging behavior.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, thin, and buzzy 'tsit' or 'zeet' notes, often delivered in rapid succession.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marcos E. Sosa · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is currently listed as Near Threatened due to rapid habitat loss and fragmentation within its range.
Unlike several other gnatcatcher species, it lacks a prominent white eye-ring.
Sexual dimorphism is present; males exhibit a striking black cap while females have a greyish crown.
The species is highly arboreal, typically foraging in the mid-to-upper canopy of the forest.
It frequently participates in mixed-species flocks, moving quickly while cocking and fanning its long tail.

Habitat

Subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests.

Range

Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-capped GnatcatcherPolioptila nigriceps Black-tailed GnatcatcherPolioptila melanura Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea California GnatcatcherPolioptila californica Cuban GnatcatcherPolioptila lembeyei Guianan GnatcatcherPolioptila guianensis Inambari GnatcatcherPolioptila attenboroughi Iquitos GnatcatcherPolioptila clementsi

Heard a Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher?

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