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

Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow

Peucaea sumichrasti

A localized endemic of southern Mexico, the Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow is characterized by its namesake rufous tail and preference for arid thorn-scrub environments.

What it sounds like

A series of dry, accelerating 'chip' notes followed by a rhythmic, mechanical-sounding rattling trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Alán Palacios · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a Mexican endemic restricted primarily to the Pacific slope of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
The species is named after Francis Sumichrast, a 19th-century naturalist who collected many type specimens in Oaxaca.
Unlike many other sparrows, it features a notably long, broad, cinnamon-colored tail that it frequently pumps while foraging.
It possesses distinct facial markings, including bold dark malar stripes and a subtle pale eye-ring.
The species was reclassified from the genus Aimophila to Peucaea following modern molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Habitat

Arid to semi-arid thorn-scrub, tropical deciduous forest edges, and low-growth thickets.

Range

Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca and western Chiapas, Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bachman's SparrowPeucaea aestivalis Black-chested SparrowPeucaea humeralis Botteri's SparrowPeucaea botterii Bridled SparrowPeucaea mystacalis Cassin's SparrowPeucaea cassinii Rufous-winged SparrowPeucaea carpalis Stripe-headed SparrowPeucaea ruficauda

Heard a Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow?

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