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-polled Yellowthroat

Geothlypis speciosa

The Black-polled Yellowthroat is an endangered, non-migratory New World warbler endemic to the high-altitude freshwater marshes of central Mexico.

What it sounds like

A raspy, rhythmic 'wich-i-ty wich-i-ty wich-i-ty' song, notably lower and huskier than the song of the Common Yellowthroat.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Alán Palacios · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is classified as Endangered by the IUCN due to severe habitat fragmentation and water diversion in the Lerma River basin.
Adult males are distinguished by a broad black facial mask that lacks the pale gray or white border typically seen in the Common Yellowthroat.
This species is a dietary specialist, foraging primarily for insects and small invertebrates within dense marsh vegetation.
It is a year-round resident of its restricted range, making it highly vulnerable to localized environmental changes.
Nesting occurs almost exclusively in clumps of dried Scirpus (bulrush) and Typha (cattail) reeds just above the water level.

Habitat

High-altitude freshwater marshes and wetlands dominated by dense emergent vegetation.

Range

The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of central Mexico, specifically the Upper Lerma River and associated highlands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Altamira YellowthroatGeothlypis flavovelata Bahama YellowthroatGeothlypis rostrata Belding's YellowthroatGeothlypis beldingi Black-lored YellowthroatGeothlypis auricularis Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas Gray-crowned YellowthroatGeothlypis poliocephala Hooded YellowthroatGeothlypis nelsoni Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa

Heard a Black-polled Yellowthroat?

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