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

Necklaced Woodpecker

Dryobates pernyii

A small, vibrant woodpecker of Asian montane forests, distinguished by its crimson lower underparts and a characteristic streaked 'necklace' across the chest.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched 'peek' or 'pit' note, along with a rapid, even-paced drum.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly placed in the genus Dendrocopos but is now classified under Dryobates following molecular phylogenetic studies.
Sexual dimorphism is evident in the head plumage, where males possess a red crown while females have a black crown with red restricted to the nape.
The species is known for its preference for moss-covered trees, often foraging on smaller branches and twigs rather than the main trunk.
It is frequently observed participating in mixed-species foraging flocks alongside laughingthrushes and nuthatches.
The 'necklace' refers to the dense black streaks on the upper breast that sharply contrast with the white throat and red belly patch.

Habitat

Subtropical and temperate montane forests, specifically broadleaf evergreen and mixed oak-conifer woodlands.

Range

Spans the Himalayas through western China, Myanmar, and into northern Vietnam.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Crimson-naped WoodpeckerDryobates cathpharius Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens Hairy WoodpeckerDryobates villosus Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalaris Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttallii

Heard a Necklaced Woodpecker?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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