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

Cassin's Sparrow

Peucaea cassinii

A cryptically colored sparrow of the American Southwest, most famous for the male's dramatic aerial 'skylarking' song display during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A high, thin introductory whistle followed by a sweet, melancholy trill and two lower-pitched terminal notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Performs a signature 'skylarking' flight, fluttering upward 10–20 feet before gliding back down while singing.
Highly nomadic species that shifts its breeding range significantly from year to year based on summer monsoon rainfall.
Features distinct dark 'anchor' or 'T' patterns on its central tail feathers, though these are difficult to see in the field.
Often remains hidden in dense grass, preferring to run away from intruders rather than taking flight.
Named after John Cassin, a prominent 19th-century American ornithologist and curator at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

Habitat

Arid grasslands and shrub-steppes with scattered mesquite, yucca, or cacti.

Range

South-central United States, including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, extending into north-central Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bachman's SparrowPeucaea aestivalis Black-chested SparrowPeucaea humeralis Botteri's SparrowPeucaea botterii Bridled SparrowPeucaea mystacalis Cinnamon-tailed SparrowPeucaea sumichrasti Rufous-winged SparrowPeucaea carpalis Stripe-headed SparrowPeucaea ruficauda

Heard a Cassin's Sparrow?

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