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

Spectacled Redstart

Myioborus melanocephalus

A striking Andean wood-warbler characterized by its bright yellow underparts and distinctive yellow 'spectacles' around its eyes.

What it sounds like

A rapid, accelerating series of high-pitched, buzzy notes and thin whistles; the common call is a sharp, metallic 'tsip'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · EcuadorCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It belongs to the genus Myioborus, which are often called 'whitestarts' due to their conspicuous white outer tail feathers.
To flush insect prey, it frequently fans its tail and droops its wings in a rhythmic display while moving through foliage.
Unlike many North American warblers, the Spectacled Redstart is a sedentary resident of the high Andes and does not migrate.
It typically builds a domed nest with a side entrance on the ground or on steep embankments, heavily camouflaged with moss.
This species is a frequent nuclear member of mixed-species foraging flocks, often leading other birds through the canopy.

Habitat

Humid montane forests, elfin forests, and dense cloud forest borders at high elevations.

Range

Andean highlands from Colombia and Ecuador south to Bolivia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Brown-capped RedstartMyioborus brunniceps Collared RedstartMyioborus torquatus Golden-fronted RedstartMyioborus ornatus Painted RedstartMyioborus pictus Paria RedstartMyioborus pariae Saffron-breasted RedstartMyioborus cardonai Slate-throated RedstartMyioborus miniatus Spectacled RedstartMyioborus melanocephalus

Heard a Spectacled Redstart?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song