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-shouldered Blackbird

Agelaius xanthomus

The Yellow-shouldered Blackbird is a striking endemic species of Puerto Rico known for its glossy black plumage and vibrant yellow epaulets.

What it sounds like

A series of raspy, buzzy trills and sharp, metallic 'chuck' or 'check' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bobby Wilcox · Puerto RicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is strictly endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico, including the offshore Mona Island.
The species is highly vulnerable to brood parasitism by the invasive Shiny Cowbird.
Unlike many icterids, males and females exhibit minimal sexual dimorphism in plumage.
The Mona Island subspecies has uniquely adapted to nesting on cliff ledges rather than in trees.
It is a social nester, often forming small colonies in coastal mangroves or scrub forests.

Habitat

Coastal mangroves, salt marshes, and dry subtropical scrub forests.

Range

Puerto Rico and Mona Island.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Red-shouldered BlackbirdAgelaius assimilis Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus Tawny-shouldered BlackbirdAgelaius humeralis Tricolored BlackbirdAgelaius tricolor

Heard a Yellow-shouldered Blackbird?

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