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 Grosbeak

Passerina caerulea

The Blue Grosbeak is a large, heavy-billed bunting of the cardinal family, known for the male's deep indigo plumage and distinct cinnamon wingbars.

What it sounds like

A rich, warbling song with rising and falling buzzy phrases; the common call is a sharp, metallic 'pink'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 3:12

Rec. Richard E. Webster · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They frequently incorporate discarded snakeskins or pieces of plastic into their nests to potentially deter predators.
Unlike many other songbirds, they exhibit a characteristic behavior of twitching and spreading their tails sideways while perched.
Despite their name, genetic analysis shows they are more closely related to buntings than to the Rose-breasted Grosbeak group.
Their massive, conical bills allow them to easily crush large seeds and hard-bodied insects like cicadas and grasshoppers.
First-year males often display a 'blotchy' mix of brown and blue feathers, acting as a form of delayed plumage maturation to avoid aggression from older males.

Habitat

Overgrown fields, scrubby edges, hedgerows, and thickets near riparian zones.

Range

Breeds across the southern and central United States and Mexico; winters in Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea Lazuli BuntingPasserina amoena Orange-breasted BuntingPasserina leclancherii Painted BuntingPasserina ciris Rose-bellied BuntingPasserina rositae Varied BuntingPasserina versicolor

Heard a Blue Grosbeak?

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