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

Tufted Flycatcher

Mitrephanes phaeocercus

The Tufted Flycatcher is a small, crested tyrant flycatcher known for its vibrant cinnamon-orange underparts and upright perching posture. It is a distinctive inhabitant of montane forests, often seen darting from branches to snatch insects from the air.

What it sounds like

A high, thin 'seet' or 'peet' followed by a rapid, descending liquid trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:31

Rec. Matthew L. Brady · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of its genus, Mitrephanes, found in North and Central America.
Nests are intricate cups of moss and lichen, designed to perfectly mimic a natural bump or knot on a tree limb.
The species displays strong site fidelity, frequently returning to the same 'sentinel' perch after every foraging flight.
While a permanent resident in most of its range, it is an occasional and highly sought-after vagrant in the mountains of Southeast Arizona.
The prominent crest, for which it is named, is frequently raised and lowered during social interactions and territorial defense.

Habitat

Humid montane evergreen forests, pine-oak woodlands, and shaded forest clearings.

Range

Highlands ranging from northwestern Mexico through Central America to the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Olive FlycatcherMitrephanes olivaceus

Heard a Tufted Flycatcher?

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