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

Collared Towhee

Pipilo ocai

A large, striking ground-sparrow endemic to the high-altitude forests of Mexico, distinguished by its rufous crown and bold black breast collar.

What it sounds like

Thin, high-pitched 'tsee' notes followed by a buzzy, accelerating trill; calls include a sharp, metallic 'chink'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 5:45

Rec. Richard E. Webster · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest member of the Pipilo genus and possesses a signature white throat patch.
The species is famous for extensive hybridization with the Spotted Towhee, creating a 'hybrid swarm' across central Mexico.
It primarily forages on the ground using a specialized 'double-scratch' hop to uncover seeds and invertebrates.
Despite its bright colors, it is often elusive, staying within dense undergrowth and thickets.
The species is sedentary and does not migrate, remaining in high-elevation montane habitats year-round.

Habitat

High-elevation pine-oak forests, humid evergreen forests, and dense montane shrubbery.

Range

Highlands of central and southern Mexico, specifically the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and Sierra Madre del Sur.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bermuda TowheePipilo naufragus Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus Green-tailed TowheePipilo chlorurus Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus

Heard a Collared Towhee?

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