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

Chestnut-collared Longspur

Calcarius ornatus

The Chestnut-collared Longspur is a small, ground-nesting songbird of the Great Plains, distinguished by the male's striking black underparts and rufous nape during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A short, melodic, warbling song with a distinctive descending finish; flight calls are a sharp, finch-like 'kittle' or 'tri-lip'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Matt Wistrand · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

During courtship, males perform 'skylarking' displays, flying up to 50 feet and singing while parachuting back down on stiff wings.
The species is a shortgrass prairie specialist, often preferring areas that have been recently grazed or disturbed by fire.
Its common name refers to the unusually long claw on its hind toe, an adaptation for walking on open ground rather than perching.
Unlike many songbirds, they are often found in loose colonies during the breeding season rather than strictly isolated territories.
Populations have declined by over 80% since 1966, primarily due to the conversion of native prairies to intensive agriculture.

Habitat

Native shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies, particularly those with low vegetation and minimal litter.

Range

Breeds in the Northern Great Plains of the US and Canada; winters in the Southwestern US and Northern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus Smith's LongspurCalcarius pictus

Heard a Chestnut-collared Longspur?

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