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

Masked Cardinal

Paroaria nigrogenis

The Masked Cardinal is a striking, red-headed passerine of northern South America, distinguished from its relatives by a prominent black mask extending through the eyes.

What it sounds like

A series of liquid, melodic whistles and sweet, flute-like notes, often described as 'su-wheat'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:28

Rec. Rosendo Manuel Fraga · VenezuelaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Despite its name, it belongs to the tanager family (Thraupidae) rather than the true cardinal family (Cardinalidae).
It was previously considered a subspecies of the Red-capped Cardinal but is differentiated by its extensive black ear-coverts.
Juvenile birds lack the crimson head of adults, instead displaying a duller brownish or buff-colored head.
The species is highly semi-aquatic in its habits, rarely venturing far from the edges of rivers, lakes, or mangroves.
Pairs are known to be highly territorial and will sing together to defend their lakeside foraging grounds.

Habitat

Mangroves, freshwater marshes, flooded forests, and shrubby river edges.

Range

Northern South America, primarily in Trinidad, northern Venezuela, and northeastern Colombia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Crimson-fronted CardinalParoaria baeri Red-capped CardinalParoaria gularis Red-cowled CardinalParoaria dominicana Red-crested CardinalParoaria coronata Yellow-billed CardinalParoaria capitata

Heard a Masked Cardinal?

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