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

California Gnatcatcher

Polioptila californica

A small, non-migratory songbird of the Southwest, characterized by its dark gray plumage and high dependency on threatened coastal sage scrub ecosystems.

What it sounds like

A faint, nasal, descending 'mew' note that strongly resembles the sound of a kitten.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:14

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

Field notes

Listed as a federally threatened species in 1993 due to urban development and habitat fragmentation.
Breeding males develop a distinctive jet-black cap which fades to gray during the winter months.
Distinguished from the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher by having significantly less white on the underside of its tail feathers.
They are obligate residents of coastal sage scrub, rarely moving more than a few miles from their birth site.
Pairs are highly territorial and remain together year-round to defend their specific nesting boundaries.

Habitat

Low-elevation coastal sage scrub communities dominated by California sagebrush and buckwheat.

Range

Coastal Southern California south through the entire Baja California peninsula.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-capped GnatcatcherPolioptila nigriceps Black-tailed GnatcatcherPolioptila melanura Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea Creamy-bellied GnatcatcherPolioptila lactea Cuban GnatcatcherPolioptila lembeyei Guianan GnatcatcherPolioptila guianensis Inambari GnatcatcherPolioptila attenboroughi Iquitos GnatcatcherPolioptila clementsi

Heard a California Gnatcatcher?

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