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

Dead Sea Sparrow

Passer moabiticus

A small, specialized sparrow of the Middle East, known for its striking yellow neck patches and preference for nesting in dense tamarisk thickets near water.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched 'chi-chi-chi-chi' and a dry, metallic 'chiss-it' that is thinner and faster than a House Sparrow's call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lider Sinav · TurkeyCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest member of the genus Passer, typically measuring only 12 to 13 centimeters in length.
They build disproportionately large, globular nests of twigs that can be up to 30 centimeters in diameter, often hanging from tamarisk branches.
Only the male displays the diagnostic bright yellow patches on the sides of the neck and a distinct black bib during the breeding season.
Despite being named after the Dead Sea, they require access to fresh or brackish water for drinking and cannot survive on hypersaline water.
The species exhibits a fragmented distribution with distinct eastern and western populations that may be largely isolated from one another.

Habitat

Arid scrubland and dense tamarisk thickets in close proximity to rivers, canals, or marshes.

Range

Middle East and Western Asia, including the Jordan Valley, Iraq, Iran, and southern Turkey.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abd al Kuri SparrowPasser hemileucus Arabian Golden SparrowPasser euchlorus Cape SparrowPasser melanurus Cape Verde SparrowPasser iagoensis Chestnut SparrowPasser eminibey Desert SparrowPasser simplex Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus Great Rufous SparrowPasser motitensis

Heard a Dead Sea Sparrow?

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