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

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus frantzii

A reclusive, ground-foraging thrush of Central American highlands, distinguished by its reddish-brown crown and ethereal, flute-like song.

What it sounds like

A complex series of clear, liquid whistles followed by lower-pitched, buzzy, or metallic trills; calls include a thin, rising 'seee' or a nasal 'waah'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Unlike many other members of the genus Catharus, this species is a year-round resident and does not migrate.
It is a 'cloud forest specialist,' primarily inhabiting moist, high-altitude environments characterized by frequent mist.
The species is frequently heard but rarely seen due to its habit of staying deep within dense understory vegetation.
Its diet is omnivorous, consisting of small invertebrates found in leaf litter and a variety of small forest fruits.
Nests are often constructed on mossy embankments or within thickets, crafted into a bulky cup of moss and rootlets.

Habitat

Humid montane oak forests, cloud forests, and dense secondary growth understories.

Range

Highlands ranging from central Mexico south through Central America to western Panama.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bicknell's ThrushCatharus bicknelli Black-billed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus gracilirostris Black-headed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus mexicanus Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimus Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus Orange-billed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus aurantiirostris Russet Nightingale-ThrushCatharus occidentalis Slaty-backed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus fuscater

Heard a Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush?

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