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

Field Sparrow

Spizella pusilla

A small, rufous-capped sparrow distinguished by its unstreaked breast, white eye-ring, and signature bubblegum-pink bill.

What it sounds like

A series of clear, sweet whistles that accelerate in tempo, often compared to the sound of a ping-pong ball coming to rest.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:56

Rec. Sue Riffe · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The bright pink bill is a definitive year-round field mark for both sexes and ages.
Its song follows a 'bouncing ball' rhythm, beginning with slow whistles and accelerating into a rapid trill.
Nesting height typically increases as the season progresses, moving from ground level to higher in shrubs as foliage densens.
While appearing social, males are highly territorial during the breeding season and show strong site fidelity.
The species is highly susceptible to brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds in fragmented landscapes.

Habitat

Old fields, brushy pastures, and early successional openings with scattered shrubs and tall grasses.

Range

Eastern and Central North America, from the Great Plains to the Atlantic Coast.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-chinned SparrowSpizella atrogularis Brewer's SparrowSpizella breweri Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida Worthen's SparrowSpizella wortheni

Heard a Field Sparrow?

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