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 Tanager

Piranga olivacea

A striking Neotropical migrant known for the male's brilliant red breeding plumage and its preference for the high forest canopy. They are classic interior-forest birds that transition to a cryptic olive-green color during the non-breeding season.

What it sounds like

A series of raspy, burry whistles often likened to a 'robin with a sore throat,' plus a distinctive 'chick-burr' call note.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bobby Wilcox · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Adult males undergo a complete molt in late summer, trading their iconic scarlet feathers for olive-green ones that resemble the female's plumage.
They are long-distance migrants, traveling from eastern North American forests to the Amazon basin and Andean foothills for the winter.
Despite their vibrant color, they are difficult to observe because they forage and nest primarily in the highest reaches of mature deciduous trees.
They are a 'forest-interior' species, meaning their nesting success declines significantly in fragmented habitats due to increased predation and brood parasitism.
Their diet is primarily insectivorous during the summer, but they shift to eating large quantities of fruit to fuel their trans-Gulf migration.

Habitat

Mature deciduous and mixed-evergreen forests, particularly those dominated by oak, beech, and maple.

Range

Breeds in eastern North America and southeastern Canada; winters in northwestern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Flame-colored TanagerPiranga bidentata Hepatic TanagerPiranga flava Red-headed TanagerPiranga erythrocephala Red-hooded TanagerPiranga rubriceps Rose-throated TanagerPiranga roseogularis Summer TanagerPiranga rubra Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana White-winged TanagerPiranga leucoptera

Heard a Scarlet Tanager?

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Identify a bird by its song