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 Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

A high-energy wood-warbler known for its striking plumage and constant, butterfly-like motion while foraging. Males are jet black with vivid orange patches, while females and immatures are gray-olive with yellow accents.

What it sounds like

A series of 2 to 11 thin, high-pitched, accelerating notes often ending with a sharp upward or downward slur, resembling 'tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee-O'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Scott Olmstead · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Uses a 'flash-and-flush' hunting technique, spreading its tail and wings to startle insects into flight.
First-year males exhibit delayed plumage maturation, closely resembling females to avoid aggression from older males.
One of the few warbler species that regularly fans its tail while foraging to reveal bright contrast spots.
Defends territories vigorously on both its temperate breeding grounds and its tropical wintering grounds.
The species name 'ruticilla' translates from Latin to 'red tail', despite the bird's patches being distinctly orange.

Habitat

Deciduous and mixed-deciduous forests, often near water or within thick second-growth scrub.

Range

Breeds across Canada and the northern/eastern United States; winters in the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Adelaide's WarblerSetophaga adelaidae Arrowhead WarblerSetophaga pharetra Bahama WarblerSetophaga flavescens Barbuda WarblerSetophaga subita Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens Black-throated Gray WarblerSetophaga nigrescens Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virens

Heard a American Redstart?

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