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

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

A tiny, restless songbird characterized by its blue-gray upperparts, white underparts, and a long, white-edged tail that it frequently flicks.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched, and nasal 'pwee' or 'spee' call; song is a faint, squeaky warble.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:16

Rec. Manuel Grosselet · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It constructs exquisite, cup-shaped nests using spider silk and lichens to camouflage them as knots on tree branches.
The bird constantly waves its tail from side to side to flush insects out of hiding while foraging in dense foliage.
During the breeding season, males develop a distinct black 'V' or eyebrow marking across their forehead.
Despite their diminutive 6-gram weight, they are highly aggressive and will chase much larger birds away from their nests.
They are proficient mimics, often incorporating the notes of other bird species into their own quiet, complex songs.

Habitat

Deciduous forests, open woodlands, and shrubby thickets near water.

Range

Breeds across the United States and southern Ontario; winters in the southern U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-capped GnatcatcherPolioptila nigriceps Black-tailed GnatcatcherPolioptila melanura California GnatcatcherPolioptila californica Creamy-bellied GnatcatcherPolioptila lactea Cuban GnatcatcherPolioptila lembeyei Guianan GnatcatcherPolioptila guianensis Inambari GnatcatcherPolioptila attenboroughi Iquitos GnatcatcherPolioptila clementsi

Heard a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher?

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