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

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

A reclusive, long-distance migrant of the northern boreal forest known for its subtle, cold-toned plumage and preference for dense cover.

What it sounds like

A thin, nasal, burry 'pree-u' call and a spiraling, flute-like song that typically descends in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Seth Beaudreault (Toolik Field Station) · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It completes one of the longest migrations of any North American passerine, traveling from the Arctic to the Amazon basin.
It is the only North American thrush species that also breeds in the Palearctic, specifically in northeastern Siberia.
Until 1995, it was considered conspecific with the Bicknell's Thrush, which is nearly identical in appearance.
Its breeding range extends further north into the shrub tundra than any other member of the genus Catharus.
During migration, it is notoriously secretive, often foraging in deep shadows and dense undergrowth where it is easily overlooked.

Habitat

Stunted coniferous forests, alder thickets, and northern shrub tundra during breeding; tropical rainforests during winter.

Range

Breeds across northern North America and Siberia; winters primarily in northern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bicknell's ThrushCatharus bicknelli Black-billed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus gracilirostris Black-headed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus mexicanus Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus Orange-billed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus aurantiirostris Ruddy-capped Nightingale-ThrushCatharus frantzii Russet Nightingale-ThrushCatharus occidentalis Slaty-backed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus fuscater

Heard a Gray-cheeked Thrush?

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