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

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Dryobates scalaris

A small, desert-adapted woodpecker characterized by the prominent black-and-white horizontal barring on its back that resembles a ladder. It is the most common woodpecker found in the arid scrublands of the American Southwest.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched 'pik' note and a rapid, descending whinny or rattle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Scott Olmstead · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Often nicknamed the 'cactus woodpecker' due to its habit of nesting in saguaros and dry agave stalks.
Males feature an extensive red crown, while females possess a completely black crown, making field identification of sex straightforward.
It frequently forages on low-growing vegetation, including prickly pear cacti and small shrubs, rather than restricted to large trees.
The species is known to hybridize with the closely related Nuttall's Woodpecker in narrow zones of overlap in Southern California.
Unlike many temperate birds, the Ladder-backed Woodpecker is non-migratory and remains in its desert territory year-round.

Habitat

Arid brushlands, desert scrub, mesquite thickets, and riparian woodlands in dry regions.

Range

Southwestern United States from California to Texas, extending south through Mexico to Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Crimson-naped WoodpeckerDryobates cathpharius Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens Hairy WoodpeckerDryobates villosus Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor Necklaced WoodpeckerDryobates pernyii Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttallii

Heard a Ladder-backed Woodpecker?

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