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

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus borealis

A small, cooperatively breeding woodpecker endemic to the southeastern United States, uniquely dependent on mature, living pine ecosystems.

What it sounds like

A sharp, raspy, and nasal 'szrit' or 'tsick' call, often sounding more squeaky than other woodpecker species.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sue Riffe · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only North American woodpecker to excavate nesting cavities exclusively in living pine trees.
The species lives in complex family groups where non-breeding 'helpers' assist the alpha pair in raising young.
Birds peck 'resin wells' around cavity entrances to create a sticky barrier of pine sap that deters predatory snakes.
Excavating a single cavity in a living tree is a multi-year process, often requiring the presence of red heart fungus to soften the wood.
The namesake red 'cockade' is a tiny streak of feathers on the male's crown that is rarely visible unless the bird is agitated or in hand.

Habitat

Mature, fire-maintained pine savannas, particularly those dominated by Longleaf Pine with an open, grassy understory.

Range

Southeastern United States, ranging from Virginia south to Florida and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Arizona WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus arizonae Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus Smoky-brown WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus fumigatus Strickland's WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus stricklandi White-headed WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus albolarvatus

Heard a Red-cockaded Woodpecker?

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