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

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

A small, boldly striped wood-warbler characterized by its unique nuthatch-like behavior of creeping along tree trunks and branches.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, high-pitched, thin 'wee-see, wee-see, wee-see' resembling a squeaky wagon wheel.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:22

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

Field notes

It is the sole member of the genus Mniotilta, distinguished by its specialized foraging mechanics.
Equipped with an unusually long hind toe and claw, it can climb vertically and hang from bark crevices.
Unlike most arboreal warblers, this species typically constructs its cup-shaped nest on the forest floor.
Its diet consists primarily of bark-dwelling insects, including weevils, ants, and various larvae.
It is one of the earliest migratory wood-warblers to return to its breeding grounds in the spring.

Habitat

Deciduous and mixed-coniferous forests, often favoring mature woodlands with dense canopies.

Range

Breeds across central and eastern North America; winters in the southern US, Caribbean, and Central/South America.

Heard a Black-and-white 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