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

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

A small, slender New World sparrow easily recognized by its bright rufous crown, bold white supercilium, and crisp black trans-ocular stripe.

What it sounds like

A rapid, dry, monotonous trill on a single pitch; the common call is a high, short 'tsip'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bobby Wilcox · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Historically nicknamed the 'hairbird' because of its unique habit of lining its nest with horsehair.
The male's song is a remarkably long, mechanical trill that can contain over 50 notes in a single 4-second burst.
During the non-breeding season, their solid rufous cap molts into a duller, streaked brown pattern.
They are highly social during winter, often forming large foraging flocks with other sparrow species and Dark-eyed Juncos.
Nests are often built so loosely and thinly that eggs can be visible through the bottom of the structure.

Habitat

Open woodlands, coniferous forest edges, suburban parks, and residential lawns.

Range

Breeds across most of North America from Alaska to Central America; winters in the southern United States and Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-chinned SparrowSpizella atrogularis Brewer's SparrowSpizella breweri Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida Field SparrowSpizella pusilla Worthen's SparrowSpizella wortheni

Heard a Chipping Sparrow?

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