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

Abert's Towhee

Melozone aberti

A large, ground-dwelling sparrow of the desert Southwest, distinguished by its uniform cinnamon-brown plumage and contrasting black face mask.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'peek' or 'pink' call note; the song is a series of accelerating, high-pitched rhythmic squeaks.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:27

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

Field notes

Spends the vast majority of its life on the ground, using a 'double-scratch' maneuver to uncover insects and seeds in leaf litter.
Pairs remain together year-round on permanent territories, rarely migrating or wandering far from their home range.
The species is highly specialized to the Sonoran Desert, particularly restricted to riparian corridors and desert washes.
When a pair reunites after a brief separation, they often perform a synchronized 'squeal ceremony' involving rapid wing-quivering and loud calling.
Named in honor of Lieutenant James William Abert, an American soldier and naturalist who collected the type specimen in 1846.

Habitat

Dense riparian thickets, desert washes, and brushy suburban gardens near water sources.

Range

Lower Colorado River Valley and Gila River watersheds in the Southwestern US and northwestern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cabanis's Ground-SparrowMelozone cabanisi California TowheeMelozone crissalis Canyon TowheeMelozone fusca Gray-crowned Ground-SparrowMelozone occipitalis Rusty-crowned Ground-SparrowMelozone kieneri Rusty-crowned Ground-SparrowMelozone kieneri White-eared Ground-SparrowMelozone leucotis White-faced Ground-SparrowMelozone biarcuata

Heard a Abert's Towhee?

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Identify a bird by its song