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

Canyon Towhee

Melozone fusca

A large, warm-brown sparrow of the American Southwest, the Canyon Towhee is a terrestrial bird often found hopping through arid scrub and suburban gardens.

What it sounds like

A loud, metallic 'chink' or 'tseee' call; the song is a rhythmic, accelerating series of sharp chips.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Pat Goltz · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was considered the same species as the California Towhee until 1989, when they were split based on genetic and vocal differences.
The species uses a 'double-scratch' foraging technique, jumping forward and kicking backward with both feet to uncover seeds and insects.
Canyon Towhees are highly sedentary and monogamous, with pairs often defending the same territory year-round.
Despite its name, it is just as likely to be found around human dwellings and building foundations as it is in rocky canyons.
They possess a distinctive patch of bright cinnamon-colored feathers beneath the base of the tail, known as the crissum.

Habitat

Arid scrublands, desert grasslands, rocky slopes, and residential areas.

Range

Southwestern United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, extending south into the Mexican interior.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abert's TowheeMelozone aberti Cabanis's Ground-SparrowMelozone cabanisi California TowheeMelozone crissalis 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 Canyon Towhee?

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