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

Large Elaenia

Elaenia spectabilis

The Large Elaenia is a robust, drab tyrant flycatcher of South America, notable for its lack of a distinct crown patch and its seasonal migratory movements.

What it sounds like

A dry, burry, and descending whistle, typically described as a raspy 'pree-eer' or 'fiu-wheer'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marcos E. Sosa · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest member of its genus, reaching up to 18 centimeters in length with a notably heavy bill.
The species is an austral migrant, breeding in southern South America and moving north to the Amazon basin during the austral winter.
Unlike the similar Yellow-bellied Elaenia, it lacks a conspicuous white crown stripe, though it may show a small, semi-concealed patch.
It primarily occupies the mid-to-upper canopy level, where it sally-gleans for both insects and small fruits.
Identification often relies on its larger size and more 'blank-faced' expression compared to smaller, sympatric Elaenia species.

Habitat

Riverine thickets, gallery forests, woodland edges, and humid secondary growth.

Range

Breeds in central and southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina; winters north to the Amazon basin.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blue Mountain ElaeniaElaenia fallax Brownish ElaeniaElaenia pelzelni Caribbean ElaeniaElaenia martinica Coopmans's ElaeniaElaenia brachyptera Great ElaeniaElaenia dayi Highland ElaeniaElaenia obscura Hispaniolan ElaeniaElaenia cherriei Lesser ElaeniaElaenia chiriquensis

Heard a Large Elaenia?

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