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

Magellanic Woodpecker

Campephilus magellanicus

The Magellanic Woodpecker is South America's largest woodpecker and a flagship species of the southern temperate rainforests.

What it sounds like

A loud, nasal, and explosive 'pwee-er' or 'kueer', accompanied by a heavy, resonant double-knock.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:14

Rec. Nicolas Vilches · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest extant woodpecker in South America, measuring up to 45 centimeters in length.
Males feature a striking entirely crimson head, while females are black with a distinct recurved crest and a small red patch at the bill base.
The species is famous for its diagnostic 'double-tap' drum, which is audible from great distances within the forest.
They are primary cavity nesters, creating large holes in decaying trees that provide essential nesting sites for secondary cavity users.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of wood-boring larvae extracted from Nothofagus trees using their powerful bills.

Habitat

Mature and old-growth Nothofagus (Southern Beech) and Araucaria forests.

Range

Southern Chile and southwestern Argentina, extending to the tip of Tierra del Fuego.

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 Ivory-billed WoodpeckerCampephilus principalis Pale-billed WoodpeckerCampephilus guatemalensis

Heard a Magellanic 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