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

Hooded Yellowthroat

Geothlypis nelsoni

The Hooded Yellowthroat is a small, skulking warbler endemic to the highlands of Mexico, distinguished by its vibrant yellow plumage and a black facial mask bordered by a prominent gray crown.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, jerky series of 'che-wit, che-wit, che-wit' notes, and a sharp, dry 'tsip' call note.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:26

Rec. Manuel Grosselet · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is primarily distinguished from the Common Yellowthroat by the more extensive gray 'hood' that covers the crown and nape.
The species is named after Edward William Nelson, a naturalist who served as the chief of the U.S. Biological Survey.
Unlike many other North American warblers, the Hooded Yellowthroat is non-migratory and remains in its montane range year-round.
It occupies high-altitude territories, typically found between 1,500 and 3,000 meters above sea level.
Two distinct subspecies are recognized: G. n. nelsoni in eastern Mexico and G. n. karlenae in the southwest.

Habitat

Dense undergrowth in humid to semi-arid montane scrub, pine-oak forests, and shrubby highland slopes.

Range

Endemic to the highlands of central and southern Mexico, spanning the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Altamira YellowthroatGeothlypis flavovelata Bahama YellowthroatGeothlypis rostrata Belding's YellowthroatGeothlypis beldingi Black-lored YellowthroatGeothlypis auricularis Black-polled YellowthroatGeothlypis speciosa Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas Gray-crowned YellowthroatGeothlypis poliocephala Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa

Heard a Hooded Yellowthroat?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song