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

Greater Yellow-headed Vulture

Cathartes melambrotus

A large, dark scavenger of the Amazonian rainforest canopy, distinguished by its vibrant yellow-orange head and exceptional sense of smell.

What it sounds like

Lacks a syrinx; limited to soft, raspy hisses or low-pitched guttural grunts.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Cameron Rutt · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses a highly developed olfactory bulb, allowing it to locate carrion hidden under dense forest foliage.
It was only formally recognized as a distinct species from the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture in 1964.
Unlike its closer relatives, it prefers the interior of primary tropical forests rather than open grasslands.
It often acts as a 'scout' for larger scavengers like King Vultures, which may follow it to a food source.
Its wingspan can reach up to 178 cm, making it significantly larger and broader-winged than the Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture.

Habitat

Primary tropical moist lowland forests.

Range

Amazon Basin of South America, spanning Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Lesser Yellow-headed VultureCathartes burrovianus Lesser Yellow-headed VultureCathartes burrovianus Turkey VultureCathartes aura

Heard a Greater Yellow-headed Vulture?

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