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

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

A large, distinctively patterned woodpecker often seen foraging on the ground for ants rather than on tree trunks.

What it sounds like

A loud, rhythmic 'wick-wick-wick-wick' and a sharp, descending 'klee-yer' whistle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:02

Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · United StatesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few North American woodpeckers that is strongly migratory, with northern populations heading south for winter.
The species is divided into two primary groups: the 'Yellow-shafted' in the East and 'Red-shafted' in the West.
Their tongues are remarkably long, wrapping around the skull and extending two inches past the bill to lap up insects.
Unlike most woodpeckers, they primarily eat ants and beetles from the ground using a specialized barbed tongue.
Flickers often drum on metal objects like chimneys or signs to produce the loudest possible sound for territorial displays.

Habitat

Open woodlands, forest edges, yards, parks, and burnt-over forests.

Range

Widespread across North America, from the tree line in Alaska and Canada south into Mexico and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean FlickerColaptes rupicola Bermuda FlickerColaptes oceanicus Black-necked WoodpeckerColaptes atricollis Campo FlickerColaptes campestris Chilean FlickerColaptes pitius Crimson-mantled WoodpeckerColaptes rivolii Fernandina's FlickerColaptes fernandinae Gilded FlickerColaptes chrysoides

Heard a Northern Flicker?

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