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-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

A ubiquitous and highly territorial icterid, the Red-winged Blackbird is iconic for the male's glossy black plumage and vibrant shoulder epaulets.

What it sounds like

A loud, liquid, gurgling 'conk-la-ree!' often accompanied by a sharp 'check' alarm note.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:35

Rec. Pat Goltz · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males can have up to 15 different female mates nesting within a single territory.
The bird’s scarlet shoulder patches, called epaulets, are flashed to signal dominance and defend territory.
They are highly aggressive during breeding season, frequently mobbing much larger birds like hawks and herons.
Outside of the breeding season, they form massive mixed-species winter roosts that can number in the millions.
Female plumage is vastly different from males, appearing heavily streaked and brownish to mimic dead marsh vegetation.

Habitat

Freshwater and saltwater marshes, wetlands, agricultural fields, and roadside ditches.

Range

Most of North America, from southern Alaska and Canada to the Yucatan Peninsula and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-shouldered BlackbirdAgelaius assimilis Tawny-shouldered BlackbirdAgelaius humeralis Tricolored BlackbirdAgelaius tricolor Yellow-shouldered BlackbirdAgelaius xanthomus

Heard a Red-winged 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