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

Guianan Gnatcatcher

Polioptila guianensis

The Guianan Gnatcatcher is a tiny, active insectivore primarily found in the high canopy of humid lowland forests. It is characterized by its soft gray plumage and the habit of nervously flicking its white-edged tail.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, thin, sibilant 'psit' notes, often becoming a fast, descending trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Luiz Fernando Carvalho · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It belongs to a complex of species that were recently split based on distinct vocalizations and geographic barriers.
This species is almost exclusively arboreal, rarely descending from the uppermost layers of the rainforest canopy.
It is a regular member of mixed-species foraging flocks, often seen moving rapidly alongside canopy tanagers and honeycreepers.
Unlike several of its relatives, the Guianan Gnatcatcher lacks a prominent black eye-ring or distinct facial markings.
The species is considered relatively uncommon and is difficult to observe from the ground due to its preference for heights exceeding 20 meters.

Habitat

Upper levels and canopy of humid lowland terra firme forests.

Range

The Guiana Shield, including Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, southern Venezuela, and northern Brazil.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-capped GnatcatcherPolioptila nigriceps Black-tailed GnatcatcherPolioptila melanura Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea California GnatcatcherPolioptila californica Creamy-bellied GnatcatcherPolioptila lactea Cuban GnatcatcherPolioptila lembeyei Inambari GnatcatcherPolioptila attenboroughi Iquitos GnatcatcherPolioptila clementsi

Heard a Guianan Gnatcatcher?

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