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

Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher

Ptiliogonys caudatus

An elegant, high-altitude songbird characterized by its distinctive crest, silky plumage, and remarkably long tail.

What it sounds like

A series of thin, high-pitched 'tsee' or 'tsip' notes, often repeated rapidly during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:13

Rec. Bobby Wilcox · Costa RicaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males possess elongated central tail feathers that can account for more than half of their total body length.
They are specialized frugivores with a particular dietary preference for mistletoe berries, playing a vital role in seed dispersal.
The species is highly gregarious, typically found in small, active flocks that move together through the canopy.
Nests are intricate, open cups built primarily from lichens and mosses, making them difficult to spot against tree bark.
Unlike true flycatchers, they belong to the small, specialized family Ptiliogonitidae, known for their silky feather texture.

Habitat

Humid montane forests, high-altitude oak forests, and semi-open pastures with scattered trees.

Range

Highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Gray Silky-flycatcherPtiliogonys cinereus

Heard a Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher?

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Identify a bird by its song