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

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

A small, secretive grassland sparrow with a distinctive flat-headed profile and a song that mimics the buzzing of an insect.

What it sounds like

Two or three high, sharp introductory notes followed by a long, dry, insect-like buzz: 'tik-tik-zeeeeeee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:27

Rec. David A. Brinkman · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named for its primary song, which closely resembles the high-pitched stridulation of a grasshopper.
When approached, it frequently prefers to run through tall grass like a mouse rather than taking flight.
The Florida subspecies (A. s. floridanus) is critically endangered and one of the most localized birds in North America.
Its nest is a well-concealed cup on the ground, often featuring a dome of overhanging grass with a side entrance.
Adults are distinguished from many similar sparrows by their unstreaked, buffy-colored breast and yellow loral spots.

Habitat

Native prairies, hayfields, old pastures, and large open grasslands with patchy bare ground.

Range

Breeds across southern Canada and much of the United States; winters in the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Grassland SparrowAmmodramus humeralis Yellow-browed SparrowAmmodramus aurifrons

Heard a Grasshopper Sparrow?

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Identify a bird by its song