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-shouldered Blackbird

Agelaius assimilis

A medium-sized icterid endemic to Cuba, the Red-shouldered Blackbird is a wetland specialist known for its striking similarities to the North American Red-winged Blackbird.

What it sounds like

A liquid, gurgling 'kon-ka-ree' song ending in a thin, buzzy trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:04

Rec. FREDERIC Lionel · CubaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike the streaky brown female Red-winged Blackbird, the female Red-shouldered Blackbird is almost entirely black.
It is strictly endemic to the main island of Cuba and the Isle of Youth.
The species was formerly classified as a subspecies of the Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) before taxonomic elevation.
Nesting occurs in colonies, typically within sawgrass or cattails over standing water.
While males look nearly identical to Red-winged Blackbirds, their song is typically higher pitched and less harsh.

Habitat

Freshwater marshes, flooded rice fields, and swampy grasslands.

Range

Cuba and the Isle of Youth.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus Tawny-shouldered BlackbirdAgelaius humeralis Tricolored BlackbirdAgelaius tricolor Yellow-shouldered BlackbirdAgelaius xanthomus

Heard a Red-shouldered Blackbird?

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