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-hooded Tanager

Piranga rubriceps

A striking Neotropical bird characterized by its brilliant scarlet head and contrasting yellow body, found primarily in high-elevation Andean forests.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin 'tsip' or 'seee' call and a melodious, warbling song consisting of sweet, rising and falling phrases.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:21

Rec. Mitch Lysinger · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike most other Piranga species, both males and females possess the namesake red head, though the female's plumage is slightly less saturated.
Despite being called a tanager, molecular data confirms it belongs to the cardinal family (Cardinalidae) rather than the true tanagers (Thraupidae).
It is the only member of the Piranga genus that is entirely restricted to the South American continent.
The species is frequently observed as a core member of mixed-species foraging flocks in the mid-story and canopy.
Their diet is omnivorous, consisting of a variety of small berries and arthropods gleaned from the moss-covered branches of montane trees.

Habitat

Humid montane forests, cloud forests, and high-elevation forest edges.

Range

The Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Red-hooded Tanager?

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