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

Cabanis's Ground-Sparrow

Melozone cabanisi

A large, striking sparrow endemic to Costa Rica, recognized by its bold facial mask and preference for middle-elevation scrub and coffee farms.

What it sounds like

A series of high, thin 'tsip' or 'seep' notes that accelerate into a complex, sputtering trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Hans Matheve · Costa RicaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Prevost's Ground-Sparrow before being recognized as a distinct species endemic to Costa Rica.
The bird possesses a diagnostic plumage pattern featuring a rufous crown, a black face mask, and a broken black spot on the center of its breast.
Its range is remarkably small, restricted mostly to the Central Valley and the Reventazón River drainage.
Unlike many shy forest birds, it has successfully colonized shade-grown coffee plantations and agricultural hedgerows.
It is classified as Near Threatened because its limited habitat is under heavy pressure from urban sprawl and intensive agriculture.

Habitat

Thickets, coffee plantations, and dense secondary growth at elevations between 600 and 1,600 meters.

Range

Central highlands and the Caribbean slope of the Talamanca Mountains in Costa Rica.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abert's TowheeMelozone aberti California TowheeMelozone crissalis Canyon TowheeMelozone fusca Gray-crowned Ground-SparrowMelozone occipitalis Rusty-crowned Ground-SparrowMelozone kieneri Rusty-crowned Ground-SparrowMelozone kieneri White-eared Ground-SparrowMelozone leucotis White-faced Ground-SparrowMelozone biarcuata

Heard a Cabanis's Ground-Sparrow?

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