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

Crissal Thrasher

Toxostoma crissale

A secretive, long-tailed desert bird distinguished by its deeply decurved bill and prominent cinnamon-colored undertail coverts.

What it sounds like

A rich, musical song consisting of doubled or tripled phrases; the primary call is a whistled 'puit' or 'chideet'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:44

Rec. Scott Olmstead · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The name 'Crissal' refers to the bird's rufous-colored 'crissum,' the feathers surrounding the cloacal opening.
Unlike many other thrasher species, it lacks heavy spotting on its breast, displaying a more uniform grayish-brown plumage.
It is highly terrestrial and often chooses to run through dense brush to escape threats rather than taking flight.
The species possesses a distinct dark malar stripe that contrasts with its paler throat and chin.
They are monogamous and tend to remain on their breeding territories throughout the entire year.

Habitat

Dense desert scrub, mesquite thickets, and riparian washes with heavy undergrowth.

Range

Southwestern United States and central Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bendire's ThrasherToxostoma bendirei Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum California ThrasherToxostoma redivivum Cozumel ThrasherToxostoma guttatum Curve-billed ThrasherToxostoma curvirostre Gray ThrasherToxostoma cinereum LeConte's ThrasherToxostoma lecontei Long-billed ThrasherToxostoma longirostre

Heard a Crissal Thrasher?

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