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

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

A large, terrestrial falcon with a distinctive black crest and orange facial skin, known for its scavenger-like behavior.

What it sounds like

A dry, low-pitched, rattling cackle or 'wuck-wuck-wuck' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:16

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

Field notes

Despite being in the falcon family, it is highly terrestrial and can run fast on the ground to hunt or scavenge.
The bare skin on its face can rapidly change color from orange-red to yellow based on its physiological state or level of excitement.
Unlike most falcons that use cliffs or old nests, caracaras build their own bulky stick nests in trees, palms, or cacti.
It is a frequent practitioner of kleptoparasitism, often harassing vultures and other raptors to force them to vomit or drop their food.
During its 'rattle-call' display, it throws its head so far back that the crown of its head nearly touches its back.

Habitat

Open lowlands, prairies, savannas, and desert scrub with scattered trees or cacti for nesting.

Range

From the southern United States (Texas, Florida, Arizona) through Central America to Tierra del Fuego in South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Guadalupe CaracaraCaracara lutosa

Heard a Crested Caracara?

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