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 Towhee

Pipilo erythrophthalmus

A large, striking sparrow of the undergrowth, recognized by its rufous flanks and the male's bold black hood and back.

What it sounds like

A classic 'drink-your-tea' song ending in a trill, alongside a sharp, rising 'tow-hee' or 'chewink' call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Rory Nefdt · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Employs a 'double-scratch' foraging technique, hopping forward and kicking back with both feet to clear leaf litter.
While most populations have distinctive red eyes, birds in the southeastern United States often possess white or straw-colored irises.
The species was once considered conspecific with the Spotted Towhee, both formerly known as the 'Rufous-sided Towhee'.
Despite their bold plumage, they are highly secretive and spend most of their time hidden within dense, tangled thickets.
Eastern Towhee nests are frequently targeted by Brown-headed Cowbirds for brood parasitism.

Habitat

Brushy fields, thickets, woodland edges, and overgrown clearings.

Range

Eastern North America, from Southern Canada to the Gulf Coast and west to the Great Plains.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bermuda TowheePipilo naufragus Collared TowheePipilo ocai Green-tailed TowheePipilo chlorurus Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus

Heard a Eastern Towhee?

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