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-chinned Sparrow

Spizella atrogularis

A slender, secretive sparrow of arid Southwestern scrublands, characterized by its minimalist gray plumage and the male's namesake black chin patch.

What it sounds like

A series of sweet, high-pitched whistles that accelerate into a rapid trill, reminiscent of a bouncing ping-pong ball.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Omar Suárez García · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Adult males feature a distinctive black patch around the bill and chin that contrasts with their otherwise uniform gray heads.
It is the only member of the genus Spizella that lacks conspicuous wing bars or a streaked crown.
Nests are typically well-concealed cup structures built low in dense shrubs like chamise, sagebrush, or scrub oak.
Population densities often increase in chaparral areas that are regenerating several years after a wildfire.
Unlike many other sparrows, they are notoriously difficult to spot, frequently remaining hidden deep within thick cover.

Habitat

Arid chaparral, mountain mahogany, and desert scrub, particularly on steep, rocky hillsides.

Range

Southwestern United States from California to western Texas, extending south into central Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Brewer's SparrowSpizella breweri Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida Field SparrowSpizella pusilla Worthen's SparrowSpizella wortheni

Heard a Black-chinned Sparrow?

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