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

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

A medium-sized woodpecker distinguished by its red crown and unique feeding behavior of drilling horizontal rows of sap wells. It is the only highly migratory woodpecker species in eastern North America.

What it sounds like

A nasal, descending 'mew' note often compared to the sound of a cat.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bobby Wilcox · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They create 'sap wells'—shallow, rectangular holes in tree bark—to consume sap and the insects attracted to its sweetness.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have a commensal relationship with sapsuckers, often timing their migration to coincide with the opening of sap wells.
Their territorial drumming is distinctive and irregular, typically starting with a rapid burst followed by slow, rhythmic, stuttered taps.
While both sexes have red crowns, males possess a bright red throat while females typically have a plain white throat.
They are known to feed on over 250 species of trees and woody plants, though they show a strong preference for birch, maple, and aspen.

Habitat

Mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, orchards, and semi-open woodlands.

Range

Breeds across Canada and the northeastern United States; winters in the southeastern US, Mexico, and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruber Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalis Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideus

Heard a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker?

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