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

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Cacicus uropygialis

A medium-sized, glossy black icterid distinguished by its brilliant scarlet lower back and pale, ivory-colored bill. It is a social but often inconspicuous inhabitant of humid tropical forest canopies.

What it sounds like

A complex and highly variable series of liquid whistles, harsh chattering, and mechanical sounding 'clucks' or 'wheezes'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Paul Bourdin · EcuadorCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Constructs long, bag-like pendulous nests woven from fibers that hang precariously from the tips of high tree branches.
Unlike many of its relatives, the Scarlet-rumped Cacique is more frequently found in pairs or small family units than in large colonies.
The species is known to follow mixed-species foraging flocks, feeding on both fruit and large invertebrates.
The pale blue iris provides a striking contrast against its black plumage, though it can be difficult to see from a distance.
Taxonomically, it was formerly considered conspecific with the Subtropical Cacique, but they are now frequently treated as distinct species based on vocalizations.

Habitat

Canopy and edges of humid lowland forests, foothills, and mature secondary growth.

Range

Central and South America, ranging from Honduras south to the Pacific lowlands of Colombia and Ecuador.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Band-tailed CaciqueCacicus latirostris Casqued CaciqueCacicus oseryi Ecuadorian CaciqueCacicus sclateri Golden-winged CaciqueCacicus chrysopterus Mountain CaciqueCacicus chrysonotus Red-rumped CaciqueCacicus haemorrhous Selva CaciqueCacicus koepckeae Solitary Black CaciqueCacicus solitarius

Heard a Scarlet-rumped Cacique?

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