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-headed Tanager

Piranga erythrocephala

A striking songbird endemic to the highlands of Mexico, characterized by the male's brilliant scarlet head and contrasting olive-yellow plumage.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsip' or 'swee' call; the song is a rapid, sweet, robin-like warble with a characteristic burry quality.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:13

Rec. Matthew L. Brady · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Taxonomically, it belongs to the family Cardinalidae (cardinals) rather than the true tanagers (Thraupidae).
It is a non-migratory species, remaining in its Mexican montane range year-round.
Males possess a distinct dusky or blackish mask around the eyes, which distinguishes them from similar species.
The species is frequently observed as a nuclear member of mixed-species foraging flocks in the forest canopy.
Females lack the red head, instead displaying a yellow-green crown and throat that camouflages them during nesting.

Habitat

Humid pine-oak, evergreen, and cloud forests at elevations typically between 800 and 2,500 meters.

Range

Endemic to Mexico, primarily along the Pacific slope from Sonora to Oaxaca and the Sierra Madre del Sur.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Flame-colored TanagerPiranga bidentata Hepatic TanagerPiranga flava Red-hooded TanagerPiranga rubriceps Rose-throated TanagerPiranga roseogularis Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea Summer TanagerPiranga rubra Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana White-winged TanagerPiranga leucoptera

Heard a Red-headed Tanager?

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