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-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

A stocky blackbird known for its unique parasitic breeding strategy and iridescent plumage.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, liquid 'glug-glug-gleeee' whistle accompanied by clicks and whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ed Pandolfino · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They are obligate brood parasites, laying eggs in the nests of over 200 other bird species.
Females can lay up to 40 eggs per breeding season across multiple host nests.
Young cowbirds often outcompete host chicks for food due to faster growth and aggressive begging.
Originally followed bison herds across the Great Plains to feed on flushed insects.
Unlike many birds, they do not defend a traditional breeding territory or build any nest structure.

Habitat

Open grasslands, brushy areas, agricultural fields, and forest edges.

Range

Temperate North America, migrating from southern Canada to southern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneus Giant CowbirdMolothrus oryzivorus Screaming CowbirdMolothrus rufoaxillaris Shiny CowbirdMolothrus bonariensis

Heard a Brown-headed Cowbird?

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