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

Williamson's Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus thyroideus

A medium-sized woodpecker of western mountain forests, notable for exhibiting the most extreme sexual dimorphism of any North American woodpecker species.

What it sounds like

A nasal, descending 'cheer' or 'wheer' call; drumming is irregular with a rapid start followed by slower, rhythmic taps.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:05

Rec. Paul Marvin · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The male and female were originally described as two different species by early naturalists due to their vastly different plumage.
They are keystone species because their sap wells provide a critical food source for other birds, mammals, and insects.
Unlike most woodpeckers, they primarily feed on tree sap and phloem rather than wood-boring beetle larvae.
Males possess a striking black body with a red throat and yellow belly, while females are brownish and heavily barred.
They are highly dependent on large-diameter standing dead trees (snags) for nesting, particularly western larch and ponderosa pine.

Habitat

High-elevation montane coniferous forests, especially those containing larch, Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine.

Range

Western North America, from southern British Columbia through the Rocky Mountains and Pacific ranges to central Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruber Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalis Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius

Heard a Williamson's Sapsucker?

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