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 Thrasher

Toxostoma cinereum

The Gray Thrasher is a medium-sized mimid endemic to the Baja California peninsula, recognized by its grayish-brown plumage and heavily spotted underparts.

What it sounds like

A complex series of melodic and harsh phrases, often repeated two or more times; the common call is a sharp 'chup' or 'chak'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sue Riffe · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is strictly endemic to the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, found nowhere else in the world.
Unlike many other thrashers with orange or red eyes, adults have distinctive bright yellow to golden irises.
The species is highly terrestrial, preferring to run between desert shrubs rather than take flight when disturbed.
It uses its long, decurved bill to sweep aside leaf litter and probe the soil for insects, spiders, and small fruits.
It is divided into two subspecies: the darker T. c. mearnsi in the north and the paler T. c. cinereum in the south.

Habitat

Arid desert scrub, maritime succulent scrub, and thorny brush thickets often dominated by cacti.

Range

Baja California peninsula, Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bendire's ThrasherToxostoma bendirei Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum California ThrasherToxostoma redivivum Cozumel ThrasherToxostoma guttatum Crissal ThrasherToxostoma crissale Curve-billed ThrasherToxostoma curvirostre LeConte's ThrasherToxostoma lecontei Long-billed ThrasherToxostoma longirostre

Heard a Gray Thrasher?

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Identify a bird by its song