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

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

A large, robust tyrant flycatcher of the boreal forest, easily identified by its upright posture and dark, 'vested' plumage pattern.

What it sounds like

A loud, piercing three-note whistle traditionally transliterated as 'Quick, three-beers!'

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:07

Rec. Greg Irving · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays a distinctive 'vested' appearance where dark brownish-gray flanks contrast sharply with a white throat and belly.
Undertakes one of the longest migrations of any North American flycatcher, traveling up to 7,000 miles to winter in the Andes.
Highly dependent on tall, dead snags for hunting, as it perches on the highest tips to sallies out for large flying insects.
Often reveals two patches of silky white feathers on the sides of its rump, which are most visible during flight or display.
Is a fire-associated species that frequently reaches its highest breeding densities in recently burned coniferous forests.

Habitat

Coniferous and mixed forests, particularly along edges, bogs, and recently burned areas with standing snags.

Range

Breeds across Alaska, Canada, and the western/northeastern US; winters primarily in the Andes of South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blackish PeweeContopus nigrescens Cuban PeweeContopus caribaeus Dark PeweeContopus lugubris Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens Greater PeweeContopus pertinax Hispaniolan PeweeContopus hispaniolensis Jamaican PeweeContopus pallidus Jamaican PeweeContopus pallidus

Heard a Olive-sided Flycatcher?

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