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

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

A striking medium-sized woodpecker with bold black-and-white plumage, large white shoulder patches, and vibrant red undertail coverts. It is the most widespread and numerous woodpecker across its Palearctic range.

What it sounds like

A sharp, explosive 'kick' or 'pik' note; territorial drumming is a short, fast, and accelerating mechanical rattle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:33

Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Sexual dimorphism is distinguished by the male's crimson nape patch, which is entirely absent in adult females.
The species utilizes 'anvils,' wedging pine cones or nuts into bark crevices to more efficiently extract seeds with its beak.
To protect against brain injury, its hyoid bone wraps around the skull, acting as a natural shock absorber during high-impact hammering.
Drumming serves as a primary territorial advertisement, consisting of a rapid-fire burst of 10–16 strikes delivered in less than one second.
Juveniles of both sexes possess a distinctive red crown, a feature that is lost during their first post-juvenile molt.

Habitat

Deciduous forests, coniferous woodlands, parklands, and mature suburban gardens.

Range

Widespread across Europe and Northern Asia, ranging from the British Isles to Japan and North Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Darjeeling WoodpeckerDendrocopos darjellensis Freckle-breasted WoodpeckerDendrocopos analis Fulvous-breasted WoodpeckerDendrocopos macei Himalayan WoodpeckerDendrocopos himalayensis Okinawa WoodpeckerDendrocopos noguchii Rufous-bellied WoodpeckerDendrocopos hyperythrus Sind WoodpeckerDendrocopos assimilis Sind WoodpeckerDendrocopos assimilis

Heard a Great Spotted 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