The problem of identification of the modal parameters of a structural model using measured ambient response time histories is addressed. A Bayesian spectral density approach (BSDA) for modal updating is presented which uses the statistical properties of a spectral density estimator to obtain not only the optimal values of the updated modal parameters but also their associated uncertainties by calculating the posterior joint probability distribution of these parameters. Calculation of the uncertainties of the identified modal parameters is very important if one plans to proceed with the updating of a theoretical finite element model based on modal estimates. It is found that the updated PDF of the modal parameters can be well approximated by a Gaussian distribution centred at the optimal parameters at which the posterior PDF is maximized. Examples using simulated data are presented to illustrate the proposed method. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.