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

Bell's Vireo

Vireo bellii

A small, drab songbird of dense thickets, the Bell's Vireo is more often heard than seen due to its inconspicuous plumage and skulking behavior.

What it sounds like

A husky, rapid series of scolding notes often described as a 'question and answer' sequence, ending with a rising 'chee?' then a falling 'choo!'

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Richard E. Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a frequent host for Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism, which has led to significant population declines in certain regions.
The Least Bell’s Vireo subspecies is federally listed as endangered in California due to intensive habitat loss.
Unlike many other vireo species that forage in high tree canopies, this bird prefers to hunt for insects in low, dense shrubbery.
Their nests are delicate, hanging cups woven from bark strips and spider silk, typically suspended in the fork of a low branch.
The species was named by John James Audubon in 1843 in honor of his traveling companion and taxidermist, John Graham Bell.

Habitat

Dense riparian thickets, brushy fields, and desert washes with thick shrub cover.

Range

Breeds across the Central and Southwestern United States into northern Mexico; winters in Mexico and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-capped VireoVireo atricapilla Black-whiskered VireoVireo altiloquus Blue Mountain VireoVireo osburni Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius Brown-capped VireoVireo leucophrys Cassin's VireoVireo cassinii Chivi VireoVireo chivi Choco VireoVireo masteri

Heard a Bell's Vireo?

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Identify a bird by its song