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

Canada Jay

Perisoreus canadensis

The Canada Jay is a hardy, intelligent corvid of the northern woods, recognized by its fluffy gray plumage and remarkably bold, inquisitive nature around humans.

What it sounds like

A varied repertoire of soft, husky whistles, chattering notes, and 'chuck-chuck' sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:39

Rec. Steve Hampton · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Uses specialized sticky saliva to glue food boluses to tree branches above the snowline for winter consumption.
Nesting begins exceptionally early in late winter, with females incubating eggs in temperatures as low as -30°C.
Known by the Indigenous-derived name 'Whiskey Jack,' a corruption of the Cree figure Wisakedjak.
Lacks the loud, harsh screams of other jays, instead utilizing soft whistles and complex mimicry of predators like Broad-winged Hawks.
The species is non-migratory, relying on thousands of high-fat food caches to survive the arctic and subalpine winters.

Habitat

Boreal and subalpine coniferous forests, primarily those dominated by spruce and fir trees.

Range

Spans the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada, extending south into the Rocky Mountains and northern New England.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Siberian JayPerisoreus infaustus Sichuan JayPerisoreus internigrans Sichuan JayPerisoreus internigrans

Heard a Canada 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