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

Common Firecrest

Regulus ignicapilla

The Common Firecrest is one of Europe's smallest songbirds, a tiny and hyperactive insectivore distinguished by its vibrant crown and bold facial markings. It is closely related to the Goldcrest but features a more striking, masked appearance.

What it sounds like

A series of very high-pitched, thin 'zit' notes that gradually accelerate and rise in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. SWIFT Olivier · FranceCC BY-NC Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is exceptionally light, typically weighing between 5 and 7 grams, roughly the same as a US nickel.
The species is easily distinguished from the Goldcrest by its prominent white supercilium and contrasting black eye-stripe.
While both sexes have colorful crowns, the male's crest is a fiery orange-red whereas the female's is bright yellow.
It constructs a deep, spherical nest using moss, lichens, and spider webs, often lined with over 2,000 feathers.
Their foraging technique involves constant movement and 'hover-gleaning' to snatch tiny arthropods like springtails from foliage.

Habitat

Broadleaf and mixed forests, particularly those with a high proportion of holly, yew, or ivy-clad trees.

Range

Widespread across temperate Europe and parts of North Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

FlamecrestRegulus goodfellowi GoldcrestRegulus regulus Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa Madeira FirecrestRegulus madeirensis

Heard a Common Firecrest?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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