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

Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus principalis

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is one of the world's largest woodpeckers, distinguished by its massive ivory-colored bill and iconic black-and-white plumage. Long considered the 'Holy Grail' of birding, it is widely feared extinct due to the destruction of its specialized forest habitat.

What it sounds like

A nasal, repetitive 'kent' call that sounds similar to a toy tin trumpet.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Rachel Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest woodpecker found north of Mexico, reaching a length of approximately 20 inches with a 30-inch wingspan.
The species is famous for its diagnostic 'double-knock' drum, a rapid two-tap signal characteristic of the genus Campephilus.
Native Americans used the bills of this species for trade and ornamentation, valuing them as symbols of status and power.
Its primary diet consists of large beetle larvae, specifically those found in recently dead but still standing hardwood trees.
The last universally accepted sighting occurred in 1944 in the Singer Tract of Louisiana, though unconfirmed reports continue to spark debate.

Habitat

Extensive, undisturbed bottomland hardwood forests and cypress-tupelo swamps with high densities of dead wood.

Range

Historically the Southeastern United States and Cuba.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cream-backed WoodpeckerCampephilus leucopogon Crimson-bellied WoodpeckerCampephilus haematogaster Crimson-crested WoodpeckerCampephilus melanoleucos Guayaquil WoodpeckerCampephilus gayaquilensis Imperial WoodpeckerCampephilus imperialis Imperial WoodpeckerCampephilus imperialis Magellanic WoodpeckerCampephilus magellanicus Pale-billed WoodpeckerCampephilus guatemalensis

Heard a Ivory-billed Woodpecker?

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