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

Leuconotopicus villosus

A medium-sized, powerful woodpecker featuring a bold black-and-white pattern and a notably long, chisel-like bill. It is a common sight in mature forests across North America, often distinguished from the Downy Woodpecker by its larger size and longer beak.

What it sounds like

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

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ed Pandolfino · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The bill of a Hairy Woodpecker is nearly as long as its head, whereas the look-alike Downy Woodpecker has a bill much shorter than its head.
Its name is derived from the long, white, filamentous feathers located in the center of its back, which appear 'hairy' upon close inspection.
Hairy Woodpeckers have been observed following Pileated Woodpeckers to scavenge insects from the deep excavations left behind by the larger species.
Their diet consists of up to 75% insects, specifically wood-boring beetle larvae, which they extract using long, barbed tongues and sticky saliva.
During the breeding season, they excavate nest cavities in dead trees, which later serve as critical nesting sites for secondary cavity-nesters like bluebirds and chickadees.

Habitat

Mature deciduous and coniferous forests, woodlots, river groves, and well-treed suburban areas.

Range

Widespread across North America, ranging from the tree line in Alaska and Canada southward to the mountains of Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Arizona WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus arizonae Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealis Smoky-brown WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus fumigatus Strickland's WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus stricklandi White-headed WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus albolarvatus

Heard a Hairy Woodpecker?

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