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

Buff-breasted Flycatcher

Empidonax fulvifrons

The smallest North American Empidonax flycatcher, distinguished by its unique warm cinnamon-buff wash across the breast and underparts.

What it sounds like

A sharp, dry 'pit' or 'pwit' call; the song is a rapid, sneezing 'chi-lick' or 'che-be-el'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is the smallest member of the Empidonax genus found in the United States, measuring only about 4.5 to 5 inches.
Unlike many of its relatives, it favors open pine-oak woodlands and is often associated with areas recently cleared by low-intensity fires.
The species is a 'Sky Island' specialist in the U.S., restricted to high-elevation mountain ranges in Arizona and New Mexico.
It typically builds a cup-shaped nest made of moss, lichen, and grass, often tucked into a cliff ledge or tree fork.
While other flycatchers are frequently identified by subtle wing bars, this species is most easily identified by its lack of olive tones in favor of rich buff coloration.

Habitat

Open montane pine-oak forests, grassy canyons, and park-like clearings.

Range

Southwestern United States through the highlands of Mexico to Honduras.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum Black-capped FlycatcherEmpidonax atriceps Dusky FlycatcherEmpidonax oberholseri Gray FlycatcherEmpidonax wrightii Hammond's FlycatcherEmpidonax hammondii Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus Pine FlycatcherEmpidonax affinis

Heard a Buff-breasted Flycatcher?

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