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 Pipit

Anthus rubescens

A slender, ground-dwelling songbird of open landscapes, the American Pipit is best known for its constant tail-wagging and preference for walking over hopping.

What it sounds like

A sharp, thin, two-syllabled 'pi-pit' or 'pseet-pseet,' often delivered in flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Grosselet · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few North American passerines to successfully nest in both the high Arctic tundra and alpine zones above the treeline.
Unlike most songbirds that move by hopping, this species walks or runs fluidly along the ground while foraging for invertebrates.
During the breeding season, males perform a 'skylarking' display where they sing while fluttering upward and then parachute back to the ground.
They are frequently found foraging at the edges of melting snowbanks, where they glean insects that have been immobilized by the cold.
The species exhibits a subtle seasonal plumage change, transitioning from a grayish-brown winter coat to a warmer, buffy-orange breast in the spring.

Habitat

Arctic and alpine tundra during breeding; mudflats, beaches, and plowed fields during migration and winter.

Range

Breeds across northern North America and high mountain ranges; winters from the southern United States through Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African PipitAnthus cinnamomeus Alpine PipitAnthus gutturalis Australian PipitAnthus australis Berthelot's PipitAnthus berthelotii Blyth's PipitAnthus godlewskii Buffy PipitAnthus vaalensis Bush PipitAnthus caffer Correndera PipitAnthus correndera

Heard a American Pipit?

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