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

Screaming Cowbird

Molothrus rufoaxillaris

The Screaming Cowbird is a specialist brood parasite native to South America, renowned for its extreme evolutionary mimicry of its primary host.

What it sounds like

An explosive, discordant series of harsh, metallic notes followed by a long, wheezy whistle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a specialist brood parasite that almost exclusively targets the Bay-winged Cowbird.
Juvenile Screaming Cowbirds are nearly indistinguishable from host chicks to prevent rejection by the foster parents.
Unlike many other cowbirds, the chicks typically coexist with host young rather than killing them in the nest.
Its scientific name, rufoaxillaris, refers to the rufous-colored feathers under the wing (axillaries) that are usually hidden.
Adults exhibit very little sexual dimorphism, with both males and females possessing a silky black plumage with a purplish sheen.

Habitat

Open woodlands, scrubland, pastures, and agricultural areas near host populations.

Range

Southern South America, primarily Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and southern Brazil.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneus Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater Giant CowbirdMolothrus oryzivorus Shiny CowbirdMolothrus bonariensis

Heard a Screaming Cowbird?

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