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

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus guatemalensis

A large, powerful Neotropical woodpecker distinguished by its pale ivory bill and the iconic double-tap drum characteristic of the Campephilus genus. It serves as a primary excavator in Central American forests, creating cavities used by numerous other species.

What it sounds like

A loud, nasal, and penetrating 'k-wurr' or 'k-went' note, often repeated in series.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Olivier SWIFT · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays a signature 'double-tap' drum, sounding like two rapid-fire strikes where the second note is a slightly lower-pitched echo of the first.
Sexual dimorphism is prominent; the male has an entirely red head and crest, whereas the female has a black forehead and throat.
Primarily feeds on large wood-boring beetle larvae, using its massive bill to strip bark and excavate deep into decaying timber.
As one of the largest woodpeckers in its range, it can reach a length of 37 centimeters, roughly the size of a Crow.
Often forages in pairs or small family groups, maintaining contact with loud nasal calls while moving through the canopy.

Habitat

Humid lowland evergreen forests, tropical deciduous forests, and mature secondary growth.

Range

Northern Mexico through Central America to western Panama.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cream-backed WoodpeckerCampephilus leucopogon Crimson-bellied WoodpeckerCampephilus haematogaster Crimson-crested WoodpeckerCampephilus melanoleucos Guayaquil WoodpeckerCampephilus gayaquilensis Imperial WoodpeckerCampephilus imperialis Imperial WoodpeckerCampephilus imperialis Ivory-billed WoodpeckerCampephilus principalis Magellanic WoodpeckerCampephilus magellanicus

Heard a Pale-billed 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