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

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch

Leucosticte australis

A high-altitude specialist of the southern Rocky Mountains, this finch is distinguished by its chocolate-brown body and vibrant pink highlights on its wings and belly.

What it sounds like

A harsh, buzzy 'chew' or 'peew' call; the song is a series of low, husky, descending warbles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It has the most restricted breeding range of any bird in the continental United States, limited to high-peak alpine zones.
During the breeding season, adults develop specialized gular (throat) pouches to transport seeds and insects to their chicks.
They are obligate snow-foragers, often seen hopping along the edges of melting snowfields to catch wind-blown insects.
Nesting occurs in some of the most inaccessible terrain in North America, including deep crevices in vertical cliff faces.
Climate change is a primary threat, as the species relies on the specific microclimates provided by retreating alpine glaciers.

Habitat

Alpine tundra, rocky scree slopes, and high-elevation cirques above the treeline.

Range

Southern Rocky Mountains, primarily in Colorado, extending slightly into northern New Mexico and southern Wyoming.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Asian Rosy-FinchLeucosticte arctoa Black Rosy-FinchLeucosticte atrata Black-headed Mountain FinchLeucosticte brandti Gray-crowned Rosy-FinchLeucosticte tephrocotis Plain Mountain FinchLeucosticte nemoricola

Heard a Brown-capped Rosy-Finch?

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