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

Hepatic Tanager

Piranga flava

A medium-sized songbird of the cardinal family, the Hepatic Tanager is named for its liver-colored plumage and is a characteristic resident of pine-oak woodlands.

What it sounds like

A low, dry, single-syllable 'chup' or 'chuck'; the song consists of clear, caroling whistled phrases resembling a Black-headed Grosbeak.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:22

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

Field notes

The name 'Hepatic' is derived from the Greek word for liver, referring to the male's distinct brownish-red or brick-red coloration.
Unlike the similar Summer Tanager, it features a dark gray bill and distinct grayish cheek patches.
The species complex is widely debated among taxonomists and is often split into three distinct groups: Northern, Highland, and Lowland.
They are known to forage more sluggishly than other tanagers, often methodically gleaning insects from the inner branches of large trees.
Pairs often remain together year-round in the southern parts of their range, maintaining long-term pair bonds.

Habitat

Open pine, oak, and pine-oak woodlands, typically at elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet.

Range

Southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to South America as far south as Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Flame-colored TanagerPiranga bidentata Red-headed TanagerPiranga erythrocephala Red-hooded TanagerPiranga rubriceps Rose-throated TanagerPiranga roseogularis Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea Summer TanagerPiranga rubra Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana White-winged TanagerPiranga leucoptera

Heard a Hepatic Tanager?

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