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

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa

A diminutive, high-energy songbird of coniferous forests, distinguished by its bold facial stripes and a vibrant, often concealed, golden crest.

What it sounds like

Extremely high-pitched, thin 'tsee-tsee-tsee' notes that often accelerate into a tumbling, shrill trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:21

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

Field notes

Despite weighing as little as a nickel, these birds can survive sub-zero temperatures by huddling together in groups at night.
The male's yellow crown contains a hidden fiery orange center that is flared dramatically during territorial or courtship displays.
Females may lay up to 11 eggs in a single nest, often arranging them in two layers because the cup is too small to fit them all side-by-side.
They are almost exclusively insectivorous, frequently hovering to glean tiny insects and spider eggs from the underside of conifer needles.
They exhibit a distinctive behavior of constantly flicking their wings while foraging, a trait that helps identify them from a distance.

Habitat

Boreal and montane coniferous forests, shifting to mixed woodlands and scrub during winter migration.

Range

Breeds across Canada, Alaska, and the northern/mountainous US; winters throughout most of North America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla FlamecrestRegulus goodfellowi GoldcrestRegulus regulus Madeira FirecrestRegulus madeirensis

Heard a Golden-crowned Kinglet?

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