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

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

A small, vibrant North American finch known for its bright yellow breeding plumage and its acrobatic, seed-eating behavior.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, musical series of warbles and trills; its flight call is often rendered as 'per-chic-o-ree'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Denis Dujardin · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of its family to undergo a complete molt twice a year, changing from olive-drab to bright yellow.
Strictly vegetarian, it feeds almost exclusively on seeds and occasionally feeds its young a diet of regurgitated seeds.
Nesting occurs unusually late in the summer, typically July or August, to coincide with the peak of thistle and milkweed seed production.
Its flight pattern is distinctly undulating, often described as a 'roller coaster' movement through the air.
Brown-headed Cowbirds that lay eggs in Goldfinch nests rarely survive because they cannot thrive on the Goldfinch's seed-only diet.

Habitat

Weedy fields, floodplains, open woodlands, orchards, and suburban gardens.

Range

Widespread across North America, from southern Canada to the southern United States and Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andean SiskinSpinus spinescens Antillean SiskinSpinus dominicensis Black SiskinSpinus atratus Black-capped SiskinSpinus atriceps Black-chinned SiskinSpinus barbatus Black-headed SiskinSpinus notatus Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus Hooded SiskinSpinus magellanicus

Heard a American Goldfinch?

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