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

Cinereous Bunting

Emberiza cineracea

A rare and localized Old World bunting characterized by its plain, greyish plumage and preference for arid, rocky landscapes.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'tsip' call and a short, simple song consisting of 4-6 repetitive, high-pitched notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jonathan Bryant · GreeceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is classified as Near Threatened due to its small, fragmented population and specific breeding requirements.
The species is sexually dimorphic, with males showing a distinctive pale yellow wash on the head and throat during the breeding season.
There are two recognized subspecies: the nominate 'cineracea' breeding in Turkey and 'semenowi' breeding in Iran.
It is a migratory bird that winters primarily in the semi-desert regions of the Red Sea coasts in Sudan, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia.
Unlike many buntings, it typically builds its nest on or very close to the ground, tucked under rocks or low vegetation.

Habitat

Dry, rocky mountain slopes and hillsides with sparse, low-lying scrub.

Range

Breeds in Turkey and Iran; winters in Northeast Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced BuntingEmberiza spodocephala Black-headed BuntingEmberiza melanocephala Brown-rumped BuntingEmberiza affinis Cabanis's BuntingEmberiza cabanisi Cape BuntingEmberiza capensis Chestnut BuntingEmberiza rutila Chestnut-eared BuntingEmberiza fucata Cinnamon-breasted BuntingEmberiza tahapisi

Heard a Cinereous Bunting?

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Identify a bird by its song