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-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

A small, inquisitive songbird known for its round body, oversized head, and distinctive black cap and bib. It is a frequent visitor to backyard feeders and exhibits remarkably bold behavior around humans.

What it sounds like

A clear, whistled 'fee-bee' song and a namesake 'chick-a-dee-dee-dee' alarm call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:13

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

Field notes

Every autumn, they allow neurons containing old information to die, replacing them with new ones to help remember thousands of seed cache locations.
The number of 'dee' notes at the end of their namesake call indicates the proximity and threat level of a nearby predator.
On cold winter nights, they can lower their body temperature by up to 12-15°C to enter a state of regulated hypothermia and conserve energy.
They are socially complex birds that live in dominance hierarchies, where high-ranking individuals have preferential access to food sources.
Their thick winter plumage provides such efficient insulation that it can maintain a 100-degree Fahrenheit difference between their skin and the outside air.

Habitat

Deciduous and mixed forests, open woodlands, parks, and suburban yards.

Range

Northern and central United States and throughout most of Canada.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-bibbed TitPoecile hypermelaenus Boreal ChickadeePoecile hudsonicus Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensis Caspian TitPoecile hyrcanus Chestnut-backed ChickadeePoecile rufescens Gray-headed ChickadeePoecile cinctus Marsh TitPoecile palustris Mexican ChickadeePoecile sclateri

Heard a Black-capped Chickadee?

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