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

Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax oberholseri

The Dusky Flycatcher is a small, grayish-olive tyrant flycatcher of the western United States, recognized by its inconspicuous plumage and preference for brushy montane habitats.

What it sounds like

A three-part song consisting of a sharp 'whit,' a high-pitched 'seepit,' and a lower, burry 'churp,' delivered with a deliberate rhythm.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:29

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

Field notes

It is morphologically nearly identical to the Hammond’s Flycatcher but typically occupies lower, brushier elevations rather than dense fir canopies.
The species is known for a characteristic downward tail-pumping motion while perched, helping distinguish it from similar Empidonax species.
Identification in the field often relies on the bill shape, which features a mostly orange-pink lower mandible and a medium length relative to its relatives.
The female alone constructs the cup-shaped nest, usually situated in the crotch of a shrub or small tree such as mountain mahogany or willow.
Its scientific name, oberholseri, honors the prolific American ornithologist Harry C. Oberholser who described several hundred avian taxa.

Habitat

Mountain brushlands, open coniferous forests with shrubby understories, and willow thickets.

Range

Breeds from British Columbia and Alberta south through the western US to California and New Mexico; winters in Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum Black-capped FlycatcherEmpidonax atriceps Buff-breasted FlycatcherEmpidonax fulvifrons Gray FlycatcherEmpidonax wrightii Hammond's FlycatcherEmpidonax hammondii Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus Pine FlycatcherEmpidonax affinis

Heard a Dusky Flycatcher?

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