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

Pacific Elaenia

Myiopagis subplacens

The Pacific Elaenia is a small, active tyrant flycatcher endemic to the Tumbesian region, recognized by its olive-gray plumage and bushy crest.

What it sounds like

A distinctive, high-pitched, and buzzy whistle often transcribed as a rising 'bree-eer' or 'swee-ree'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:34

Rec. Jerome Fischer · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a Tumbesian endemic, restricted to the unique dry and semi-humid coastal biomes of Ecuador and Peru.
Unlike many of its relatives, it lacks distinct wing bars, giving it a notably plain-winged appearance in the field.
The bird possesses a pale yellow or white crown stripe that is usually concealed but revealed when the bird is agitated.
It primarily feeds through glean-hovering, a technique where it snatches insects and small fruits from foliage while momentarily airborne.
The species is frequently found in mixed-species foraging flocks, often moving through the mid-story of deciduous woodlands.

Habitat

Tropical dry forests, deciduous woodlands, arid scrub, and humid forest edges.

Range

Western Ecuador (south of Esmeraldas) and northwestern Peru (south to Lambayeque).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Amazonian ElaeniaMyiopagis cinerea Choco ElaeniaMyiopagis parambae Foothill ElaeniaMyiopagis olallai Forest ElaeniaMyiopagis gaimardii Gray-headed ElaeniaMyiopagis caniceps Greenish ElaeniaMyiopagis viridicata Jamaican ElaeniaMyiopagis cotta Yellow-crowned ElaeniaMyiopagis flavivertex

Heard a Pacific Elaenia?

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