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

Crimson-naped Woodpecker

Dryobates cathpharius

The Crimson-naped Woodpecker is a small, striking member of the Picidae family found in montane forests across the Himalayas and Southeast Asia.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'tsik' or 'chip' note, often accompanied by a short, fast drum.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. JJSUN · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is primarily distinguished by a vibrant red-to-orange patch on the nape and a pinkish-red wash on its belly and vent.
This species is known to participate in mixed-species foraging flocks, often moving through the canopy with babblers and tits.
Despite its name, the amount of crimson on the nape and breast varies significantly among its several recognized subspecies.
It occupies a wide altitudinal range, typically found between 700 and 3,300 meters depending on the season and region.
Its foraging technique involves both rapid pecking and specialized gleaning for wood-boring larvae and ants.

Habitat

Subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and temperate broadleaved evergreen forests.

Range

Himalayas, southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens Hairy WoodpeckerDryobates villosus Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalaris Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor Necklaced WoodpeckerDryobates pernyii Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttallii

Heard a Crimson-naped Woodpecker?

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