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

Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

A distinctive, dark woodpecker known for its iridescent plumage and unusual flycatcher-like foraging behavior.

What it sounds like

Generally silent, but occasionally emits a soft, harsh 'churrr' or a series of high-pitched, squeaky 'che-up' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:48

Rec. Ed Pandolfino · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Named after Meriwether Lewis, who first documented the species during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805.
Unlike most woodpeckers, it primarily feeds by 'hawking' insects out of the air rather than excavating them from bark.
It possesses a unique color palette featuring a dark green back, a silver-pink breast, and a dark red facial mask.
The species exhibits a steady, crow-like flight pattern that lacks the typical undulating motion of other woodpeckers.
It is highly dependent on burned pine forests and relies on cached acorns and nuts to survive the winter months.

Habitat

Open parklands, ponderosa pine forests, riparian woodlands, and recently burned coniferous forests.

Range

Western United States and southern British Columbia, migrating south to the Mexican border in winter.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorus Beautiful WoodpeckerMelanerpes pulcher Black-cheeked WoodpeckerMelanerpes pucherani Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialis Golden-cheeked WoodpeckerMelanerpes chrysogenys Golden-fronted WoodpeckerMelanerpes aurifrons Golden-naped WoodpeckerMelanerpes chrysauchen Gray-breasted WoodpeckerMelanerpes hypopolius

Heard a Lewis's Woodpecker?

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