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

Gilded Flicker

Colaptes chrysoides

The Gilded Flicker is a large desert woodpecker known for its golden-yellow underwings and its specialized lifestyle centered around giant cacti.

What it sounds like

A loud, rhythmic 'kik-kik-kik-kik' series and a single, sharp, descending 'klee-yer' whistle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Pat Goltz · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a keystone species because its abandoned nesting cavities provide essential shelter for other desert birds like Elf Owls and Purple Martins.
Unlike most woodpeckers, Gilded Flickers spend significant time on the ground using their long, slightly curved bills to lap up ants.
They are primarily found in the Sonoran Desert, where they exclusively excavate nests in giant saguaro and organ pipe cacti.
While they resemble the Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, they lack the red crescent on the nape of the neck and have a cinnamon-colored crown.
They are highly adapted to high temperatures, often staying inactive during the hottest parts of the day within their insulated cactus burrows.

Habitat

Sonoran desert scrub, specifically areas with giant saguaro cacti and riparian woodland edges.

Range

Southwestern United States (Arizona, California) and northwestern Mexico, including the Baja Peninsula.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean FlickerColaptes rupicola Bermuda FlickerColaptes oceanicus Black-necked WoodpeckerColaptes atricollis Campo FlickerColaptes campestris Chilean FlickerColaptes pitius Crimson-mantled WoodpeckerColaptes rivolii Fernandina's FlickerColaptes fernandinae Golden-olive WoodpeckerColaptes rubiginosus

Heard a Gilded Flicker?

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Identify a bird by its song