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

Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates villosus

The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized, powerful forager characterized by its bold black-and-white plumage and a long, chisel-like bill nearly equal to the length of its head.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched 'peek' and a rapid, level-pitched rattle that does not descend at the end.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is often confused with the smaller Downy Woodpecker, but the Hairy has a bill roughly twice as long relative to its head size.
The 'hairy' moniker refers to the long, white, hair-like feathers located in the center of the bird's back.
They are significant predators of forest pests, capable of consuming up to 75% of a local bark beetle population during an outbreak.
Hairy Woodpeckers have been observed following Pileated Woodpeckers to scavenge insects from the deep excavations left behind by the larger birds.
To protect their brains from the impact of drumming, they possess specialized spongy bone and a hyoid apparatus that wraps around the skull.

Habitat

Mature coniferous and deciduous forests, woodlots, river groves, and suburban parks with large trees.

Range

Widespread throughout North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada south across the United States to Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Crimson-naped WoodpeckerDryobates cathpharius Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalaris Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor Necklaced WoodpeckerDryobates pernyii Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttallii

Heard a Hairy Woodpecker?

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