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

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

A large, conspicuous flycatcher known for its aggressive territorial defense and distinctive white-tipped tail.

What it sounds like

A rapid series of high-pitched, electric, sputtering 'zeer' notes and metallic bickers.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:26

Rec. Greg Irving · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Its genus name, Tyrannus, reflects its 'tyrannical' behavior of mobbing and chasing away much larger predators like hawks and crows.
It possesses a hidden patch of orange or red feathers on its crown that is typically only revealed during displays of aggression or courtship.
While strictly insectivorous during the summer, it undergoes a dramatic dietary shift to consume primarily fruit while wintering in the Amazon.
Unlike many songbirds that migrate at night, Eastern Kingbirds are diurnal migrants that travel in flocks during the day.
The white terminal band on its tail is a unique diagnostic feature among North American flycatchers, visible even from a distance.

Habitat

Open areas with scattered trees, orchards, farm fields, and woodland edges near water.

Range

Breeds across most of North America east of the Rockies; migrates to South America for the winter.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cassin's KingbirdTyrannus vociferans Couch's KingbirdTyrannus couchii Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savana Giant KingbirdTyrannus cubensis Gray KingbirdTyrannus dominicensis Loggerhead KingbirdTyrannus caudifasciatus Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus Snowy-throated KingbirdTyrannus niveigularis

Heard a Eastern Kingbird?

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