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

Phainopepla

Phainopepla nitens

The Phainopepla is a striking, crested silky-flycatcher of the American Southwest, known for its glossy black plumage and specialized dependence on mistletoe.

What it sounds like

A soft, liquid, upward-slurred 'whip' or 'uip'; the song is a disjointed series of scratchy, warbling notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Richard E. Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a specialized frugivore that can consume more than 1,100 mistletoe berries in a single day.
The species exhibits a rare bimodal breeding pattern, nesting in desert washes in early spring and oak woodlands in summer.
While the male is glossy black, the female is a uniform charcoal gray, both featuring distinct red irises.
Its name is derived from the Greek for 'shining robe,' referring to the iridescent sheen of the male's feathers.
When in flight, both sexes reveal conspicuous white wing patches that are completely hidden while perched.

Habitat

Arid scrub, desert washes with mesquite, and riparian oak woodlands.

Range

Southwestern United States and the Mexican Plateau.

Heard a Phainopepla?

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