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 Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma californica

A charismatic, crestless jay of the American West, known for its deep blue plumage, gray-brown back, and exceptional intelligence.

What it sounds like

A harsh, rising 'shreeink' or 'wheeeh' scold, and various rhythmic, guttural 'check-check-check' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:06

Rec. Bobby Wilcox · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They possess 'episodic-like memory,' allowing them to remember the specific location, food type, and perishability of thousands of hidden caches.
California Scrub-Jays are known to perform 'funerals,' where they gather and vocalize loudly for several minutes around a dead member of their species.
They demonstrate tactical deception by re-hiding food if they notice another bird watching them during the initial caching process.
Unlike the closely related Steller's Jay or Blue Jay, this species lacks a feathered head crest.
They have been observed standing on the backs of mule deer to glean and consume parasitic ticks in a mutualistic relationship.

Habitat

Oak woodlands, chaparral, coastal scrub, and suburban parks or gardens.

Range

Pacific Coast of North America, ranging from southwestern Washington through California to southern Baja California.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Florida Scrub-JayAphelocoma coerulescens Island Scrub-JayAphelocoma insularis Mexican JayAphelocoma wollweberi Transvolcanic JayAphelocoma ultramarina Unicolored JayAphelocoma unicolor Woodhouse's Scrub-JayAphelocoma woodhouseii

Heard a California Scrub-Jay?

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