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

Cassia Crossbill

Loxia sinesciuris

A highly specialized finch endemic to southern Idaho, evolved to exploit lodgepole pine cones in a unique ecological niche devoid of competing tree squirrels.

What it sounds like

A series of dry, sharp, and rhythmic 'chup-chup-chup' notes, typically deeper and more forceful than the calls of the Red Crossbill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is the only bird species found exclusively within the state of Idaho.
The species was formally described in 2017 after being identified as a distinct lineage within the Red Crossbill complex.
Its bill morphology is specifically co-evolved with the thick scales of serotinous Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine cones.
Unlike most crossbills, this species is non-migratory and remains in the same small mountain ranges year-round.
Climate change poses a critical threat, as high temperatures can cause cones to open prematurely, depriving the birds of their primary food source.

Habitat

Mature stands of Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta latifolia).

Range

The South Hills and Albion Mountains of southern Idaho.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Hispaniolan CrossbillLoxia megaplaga Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacus Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra Scottish CrossbillLoxia scotica White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera

Heard a Cassia Crossbill?

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