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 Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

A hardy, small songbird recognized by its rufous cap and a distinctive dark spot centered on its plain gray breast. It is a frequent winter visitor to feeders and weedy fields throughout the northern United States.

What it sounds like

A sweet, high-pitched musical series of tinkling notes; call is a thin 'tseet' and the song starts with clear, high whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 3:24

Rec. Valerie Heemstra · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Despite its name, this species primarily nests on or near the ground in low shrubs rather than in tall trees.
It features a unique bicolored bill, with a dark-gray upper mandible and a bright yellow lower mandible.
To survive cold winter nights, an individual must consume roughly 30 percent of its body weight in food and water each day.
Recent genetic analysis led to its reclassification into the monotypic genus Spizelloides, separating it from the Spizella sparrows.
They are known to engage in 'ground-scratching' to uncover seeds, often using both feet simultaneously in a backwards hop.

Habitat

Arctic tundra edges and scrubby thickets during breeding; weedy fields, hedgerows, and residential gardens in winter.

Range

Breeds in Alaska and northern Canada; winters across the northern and central United States and southern Canada.

Heard a American Tree Sparrow?

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