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 Warbler

Phylloscopus fuscatus

A small, drab leaf warbler characterized by its brownish plumage and prominent pale supercilium. It is a highly secretive bird that is more often heard than seen as it skulks through dense undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A sharp, clicking 'check-check' or 'tack,' sounding like two stones being tapped together.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:33

Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It lacks the typical green or yellow hues of other leaf warblers, possessing an almost entirely earthy-brown upperside.
The species is known for its aggressive 'tack' call, which is much louder and sharper than its diminutive size would suggest.
It is a frequent long-distance vagrant, regularly appearing in Western Europe and occasionally the Pacific coast of North America during autumn.
Unlike many arboreal relatives, it primarily forages for insects on or very close to the ground in thick vegetation.
It constructs a distinctive dome-shaped nest with a side entrance, usually hidden within low bushes or dense grass.

Habitat

Breeding in taiga bogs and willow thickets; wintering in damp scrub, reedbeds, and agricultural edges.

Range

Breeds across Northern Asia and Siberia; migrates to winter in South and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alström's WarblerPhylloscopus soror Arctic WarblerPhylloscopus borealis Ashy-throated WarblerPhylloscopus maculipennis Biak Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus misoriensis Bianchi's WarblerPhylloscopus valentini Black-capped Woodland-WarblerPhylloscopus herberti Blyth's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus reguloides Brooks's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus subviridis

Heard a Dusky Warbler?

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