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

Himalayan Woodpecker

Dendrocopos himalayensis

A medium-sized, strikingly patterned woodpecker of high-altitude montane forests, characterized by its pied plumage and bold facial markings.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'ptick' or 'chik' note; drumming is a rapid, high-intensity burst of even tempo.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:18

Rec. Andrew Spencer · IndiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the Himalayan counterpart to the Great Spotted Woodpecker, distinguished by more extensive black markings on its face and neck.
Sexual dimorphism is pronounced; males possess a bright crimson crown, whereas the crown of the female is entirely black.
The species primarily feeds on wood-boring larvae and insects but frequently supplements its diet with seeds and acorns in winter.
Nesting occurs in self-excavated cavities within dead or decaying wood, typically between 1 and 15 meters above the forest floor.
It displays a specialized foraging technique, often peeling back thick bark or probing deep into moss to locate hidden invertebrates.

Habitat

Temperate montane forests, specifically high-altitude stands of oak, rhododendron, cedar, and pine.

Range

The western and central Himalayas, spanning Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Darjeeling WoodpeckerDendrocopos darjellensis Freckle-breasted WoodpeckerDendrocopos analis Fulvous-breasted WoodpeckerDendrocopos macei Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major Okinawa WoodpeckerDendrocopos noguchii Rufous-bellied WoodpeckerDendrocopos hyperythrus Sind WoodpeckerDendrocopos assimilis Sind WoodpeckerDendrocopos assimilis

Heard a Himalayan Woodpecker?

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