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 Rosy-Finch

Leucosticte atrata

A hardy, high-altitude songbird of the American West, the Black Rosy-Finch is distinguished by its soot-black plumage and vibrant pink highlights on its wings and rump.

What it sounds like

A series of sharp, raspy 'chew' or 'peew' notes; the song is a weak, chattering sequence of similar buzzy whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:43

Rec. Andrew Spencer · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the highest-altitude breeding birds in North America, nesting almost exclusively in alpine environments above the timberline.
During the breeding season, adults develop specialized gular (throat) pouches to store and transport food to their nestlings.
They are frequently observed foraging on 'aeolian drift'—insects and seeds that are blown by the wind and trapped on high-altitude snowfields.
Due to the extreme inaccessibility of its rocky nesting sites, it remains one of the least-studied avian species in North America.
In winter, they are nomadic and often form large, swirling flocks that may include other rosy-finch species as they descend to lower elevations.

Habitat

Alpine tundra, talus slopes, and rocky cliffs near permanent snowfields and glaciers.

Range

High mountains of the interior Western United States, including parts of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Asian Rosy-FinchLeucosticte arctoa Black-headed Mountain FinchLeucosticte brandti Brown-capped Rosy-FinchLeucosticte australis Gray-crowned Rosy-FinchLeucosticte tephrocotis Plain Mountain FinchLeucosticte nemoricola

Heard a Black Rosy-Finch?

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