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

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

A slender, pale member of the Myiarchus genus, the Ash-throated Flycatcher is a resilient inhabitant of the arid scrublands and dry woods of the American West.

What it sounds like

A sharp, burry 'ka-brick' or 'ha-wheer,' along with soft, rolling 'whit' or 'purrit' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ed Pandolfino · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is uniquely adapted to desert life and can survive without ever drinking water, obtaining all necessary moisture from its insect prey.
As a secondary cavity nester, it utilizes abandoned woodpecker holes, natural tree hollows, and even man-made objects like pipes or mailboxes.
It is known for its versatility in nesting materials, often incorporating fur, hair, and even snake skins into its nest cup.
Despite its name, its most distinctive field marks are its pale yellow belly and the rufous edges on its primary and tail feathers.
Unlike many other flycatchers, it rarely returns to the same perch after a foraging flight, preferring to move continuously through the canopy.

Habitat

Arid scrublands, desert washes, chaparral, and open pinyon-juniper or oak woodlands.

Range

Western North America, breeding from Washington and Idaho south through Mexico, wintering as far south as Honduras.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Apical FlycatcherMyiarchus apicalis Brown-crested FlycatcherMyiarchus tyrannulus Dusky-capped FlycatcherMyiarchus tuberculifer Galapagos FlycatcherMyiarchus magnirostris Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus Grenada FlycatcherMyiarchus nugator La Sagra's FlycatcherMyiarchus sagrae Lesser Antillean FlycatcherMyiarchus oberi

Heard a Ash-throated Flycatcher?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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