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

Plumbeous Kite

Ictinia plumbea

A slender, slate-grey Neotropical raptor recognized by its long wings and distinctive rufous primary patches visible during flight. It is highly acrobatic, specializing in hawking insects directly from the air.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin, multi-syllabic whistle, often rendered as 'si-si-see' or 'pwee-pwee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · EcuadorCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Primarily insectivorous, it frequently captures dragonflies, cicadas, and bees mid-air using its feet.
Adults possess deep rufous inner webs on their primary feathers, creating a flash of color when wings are spread.
It is a migratory species, with southern populations moving north toward the equator during the austral winter.
Nests are typically small, inconspicuous platforms of sticks positioned high in the forest canopy.
Juveniles differ significantly from adults, featuring white-streaked underparts and a heavily barred tail.

Habitat

Lowland evergreen forests, forest edges, and tropical deciduous woodlands.

Range

Eastern Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina and Paraguay.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis

Heard a Plumbeous Kite?

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