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

Cryptic Becard

Pachyramphus salvini

A small, canopy-dwelling suboscine passerine of the Tityridae family, recently recognized as a distinct species from the Black-and-white Becard.

What it sounds like

A rapid, descending sequence of high-pitched, thin whistles, often sounding like 'tsee-tsee-tsee-tse-tsu'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

Elevated to full species status based on distinct vocalizations and its lack of white lores compared to the Black-and-white Becard.
Exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, with males featuring a glossy black cap and grey upperparts, while females have bright cinnamon-rufous crowns.
Constructs large, bulky globular nests made of moss and fibers, which are typically suspended from the ends of high canopy branches.
Primarily an insectivore that utilizes sally-gleaning techniques, though it also incorporates small fruits into its diet.
Its common name 'Cryptic' refers to the extreme morphological similarity it shares with several other members of the Pachyramphus genus.

Habitat

Humid montane forests, woodland edges, and mature secondary growth.

Range

Western South America, primarily on the Pacific slopes of the Andes from Colombia to northwestern Peru.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Barred BecardPachyramphus versicolor Black-and-white BecardPachyramphus albogriseus Black-capped BecardPachyramphus marginatus Chestnut-crowned BecardPachyramphus castaneus Cinereous BecardPachyramphus rufus Cinnamon BecardPachyramphus cinnamomeus Crested BecardPachyramphus validus Glossy-backed BecardPachyramphus surinamus

Heard a Cryptic Becard?

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