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

Okinawa Woodpecker

Dendrocopos noguchii

A critically endangered, medium-sized woodpecker characterized by its unique dark-brown plumage and status as the only woodpecker endemic to Japan's Ryukyu Islands.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched 'kyu-kyu' or 'whit' note and a rapid, heavy drumming sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. JJSUN · JapanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a monotypic species, often classified in its own genus, Sapheopipo, due to its distinct morphology.
The bird exhibits a specialized foraging technique, frequently descending to the forest floor to hunt for soil-dwelling arthropods.
Males are distinguished by a vibrant red crown and nape, whereas females have entirely dark brown or blackish crowns.
Nesting is restricted to large, old-growth evergreen trees, primarily the 'itaji' (Castanopsis sieboldii), which are increasingly rare.
Its total population is estimated at fewer than 600 individuals, making it one of the world's rarest woodpeckers.

Habitat

Mature, subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests with dense canopy cover.

Range

The northern 'Yanbaru' region of Okinawa Island, Japan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Darjeeling WoodpeckerDendrocopos darjellensis Freckle-breasted WoodpeckerDendrocopos analis Fulvous-breasted WoodpeckerDendrocopos macei Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major Himalayan WoodpeckerDendrocopos himalayensis Rufous-bellied WoodpeckerDendrocopos hyperythrus Sind WoodpeckerDendrocopos assimilis Sind WoodpeckerDendrocopos assimilis

Heard a Okinawa 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