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

Scaly-headed Parrot

Pionus maximiliani

A medium-sized, stocky green parrot distinguished by the gray, scaly-patterned feathers on its head and the bright red undertail coverts typical of the Pionus genus.

What it sounds like

A series of harsh, high-pitched shrieks described as 'keck-keck-keck' or 'kree-kree' during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marcos E. Sosa · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named after Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, a prominent 19th-century German naturalist who explored the Brazilian interior.
Unlike many other parrot species, they are often difficult to spot while feeding because they remain remarkably still and silent in the canopy.
When threatened or highly excited, this bird can produce a unique wheezing or 'huffing' sound through its nostrils.
The species is known for its bronze or olive iridescence on the mantle and wings, which shimmers under direct sunlight.
It is the most widely distributed member of the Pionus genus, showing high adaptability to human-altered landscapes.

Habitat

Subtropical and tropical dry forests, Atlantic forest, gallery forests, and wooded savannas.

Range

Central and Eastern South America, spanning Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blue-headed ParrotPionus menstruus Bronze-winged ParrotPionus chalcopterus Dusky ParrotPionus fuscus Red-billed ParrotPionus sordidus Speckle-faced ParrotPionus tumultuosus White-crowned ParrotPionus senilis

Heard a Scaly-headed Parrot?

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