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

Chilean Mockingbird

Mimus thenca

The Chilean Mockingbird, locally known as the Tenca, is a long-tailed, gray-brown songbird endemic to Chile, renowned for its exceptional vocal mimicry.

What it sounds like

A loud, complex, and persistent series of varied melodic phrases often incorporating expert imitations of other bird species.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:36

Rec. Cristian Pinto Fernandez · ChileCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only mockingbird species found in Chile, making it a distinct endemic icon of the region's avian fauna.
Observations of this species by Charles Darwin during the Voyage of the Beagle contributed to his early thoughts on geographic variation.
Unlike many other mockingbirds, it is notably terrestrial and is frequently seen running across the ground rather than flying.
The Tenca acts as a significant seed disperser for native Chilean plants, including various cacti and the Puya bromeliad.
It possesses an incredibly diverse repertoire, capable of mimicking not only other birds but also mammalian and mechanical sounds.

Habitat

Matorral shrublands, semi-arid scrub, gardens, and open agricultural landscapes.

Range

Endemic to central Chile, ranging from the Atacama Desert in the north to the Los Lagos region in the south.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bahama MockingbirdMimus gundlachii Brown-backed MockingbirdMimus dorsalis Chalk-browed MockingbirdMimus saturninus Española MockingbirdMimus macdonaldi Floreana MockingbirdMimus trifasciatus Galapagos MockingbirdMimus parvulus Long-tailed MockingbirdMimus longicaudatus Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos

Heard a Chilean Mockingbird?

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