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

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

A vivid forest songbird where breeding males display a striking contrast of flame-orange heads, yellow bodies, and black wings.

What it sounds like

A raspy, burry song composed of short phrases similar to a robin's; call is a distinctive, sharp 'pit-er-ick'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:07

Rec. Greg Irving · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The red pigment on the male's head is rhodoxanthin, a rare avian pigment acquired through their diet of certain insects.
Though they look like tropical tanagers, genetic testing has reclassified them as members of the cardinal family (Cardinalidae).
They are adept 'flycatchers,' frequently sallying out from high perches to snatch insects mid-air.
During migration, they are known to travel through diverse environments ranging from desert oases to suburban parks.
Pairs are mostly monogamous during the breeding season and typically nest high in the outer branches of conifers.

Habitat

Open coniferous and mixed-wood forests, especially those dominated by Douglas-fir, pine, and spruce.

Range

Breeds across Western North America from Alaska to Mexico; winters in Mexico and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Western Tanager?

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