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-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus nuchalis

A medium-sized woodpecker of the American West, the Red-naped Sapsucker is characterized by its red crown, throat, and distinctive red nape patch. It is best known for its specialized feeding behavior of drilling neat, horizontal rows of sap wells in tree bark.

What it sounds like

A nasal, down-slurred 'mew' or 'cheer' call; drumming is distinctive for its irregular, stuttered rhythm.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:23

Rec. Bobby Wilcox · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It drills specialized 'sap wells' to harvest phloem sap and the insects attracted to its sticky residue.
This species is considered a keystone species because its sap wells provide a critical food source for over 40 other species, including hummingbirds and squirrels.
It frequently hybridizes with both the Red-breasted Sapsucker and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker where their ranges overlap.
Unlike many other woodpeckers, it is a migratory species, moving from high-altitude breeding grounds to southern lowlands or Mexico for winter.
The presence of a red patch on the back of the head (the nape) distinguishes it from the nearly identical Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Habitat

Mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, with a strong preference for aspen, willow, and birch groves.

Range

Rocky Mountains and Great Basin regions of Western North America, ranging from southwestern Canada to northern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruber Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideus Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius

Heard a Red-naped Sapsucker?

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