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

Hispaniolan Crossbill

Loxia megaplaga

A specialized finch endemic to Hispaniola, characterized by uniquely crossed mandibles adapted for extracting seeds from native pine cones.

What it sounds like

A series of dry, repetitive 'chett-chett' notes and a complex song consisting of varied trills and whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ross Gallardy · Dominican RepublicCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Its crossed bill tips allow it to exert lateral pressure to pry open the scales of Hispaniolan Pine cones.
Genetically and morphologically most similar to the White-winged Crossbill of the northern boreal forests.
The species is highly dependent on a single tree species, Pinus occidentalis, for its primary food source.
Breeding seasons are erratic and dictated by the unpredictable masting cycles of pine seed production.
Currently listed as Endangered due to a small, fragmented population threatened by wildfires and habitat loss.

Habitat

High-elevation montane pine forests, typically above 1,000 meters.

Range

The island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), primarily in the Sierra de Bahoruco and Cordillera Central.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cassia CrossbillLoxia sinesciuris Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacus Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra Scottish CrossbillLoxia scotica White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera

Heard a Hispaniolan Crossbill?

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