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

Arctic Warbler

Phylloscopus borealis

The Arctic Warbler is a small, greenish-brown leaf warbler known for its remarkable trans-continental migration from the subarctic to Southeast Asia.

What it sounds like

A loud, penetrating, metallic trill that speeds up towards the end; the contact call is a sharp, raspy 'dzit'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Brian Löfkvist · SwedenCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of the Old World leaf warbler family (Phylloscopidae) to regularly breed in North America, specifically in Alaska.
Alaskan populations undergo a massive migration across the Bering Strait and through East Asia to reach wintering grounds in the Philippines and Indonesia.
The species was recently split into three distinct species based on vocalizations and DNA, with the Kamchatka and Japanese Leaf Warblers becoming separate.
It typically features a single, distinct pale wing bar and a long, prominent yellowish-white supercilium (eyebrow) that extends to the nape.
During the breeding season, it is highly insectivorous, often seen 'hover-gleaning' to snatch prey from the undersides of leaves.

Habitat

Open birch and willow forests, often near water or in subarctic scrub and taiga.

Range

Breeds across Northern Eurasia and Alaska; winters in Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alström's WarblerPhylloscopus soror Ashy-throated WarblerPhylloscopus maculipennis Biak Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus misoriensis Bianchi's WarblerPhylloscopus valentini Black-capped Woodland-WarblerPhylloscopus herberti Blyth's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus reguloides Brooks's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus subviridis Brown Woodland-WarblerPhylloscopus umbrovirens

Heard a Arctic Warbler?

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