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 Vireo

Vireo vicinior

The Gray Vireo is a plain, active songbird primarily found in the arid scrublands and pinyon-juniper woodlands of the Southwestern United States.

What it sounds like

A series of dry, scratchy, two-to-three-syllable phrases delivered in a hurried, questioning rhythm.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:04

Rec. Matt Wistrand · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike most other vireos, this species frequently flicks its tail downward, mimicking the behavior of a gnatcatcher.
It is highly adapted to desert life and can meet its hydration needs through its diet without requiring standing water.
During the winter, its diet shifts significantly to favor the small, oily fruits of the elephant tree (Bursera microphylla).
Gray Vireos are known for their extreme persistence in singing, even during the hottest parts of the day when other birds are silent.
They are frequent hosts for the brood-parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird, which can pose a significant threat to their reproductive success.

Habitat

Arid slopes dominated by pinyon pine, juniper, oak scrub, and chaparral.

Range

Southwestern United States (California to Texas) and Northwestern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bell's VireoVireo bellii Black-capped VireoVireo atricapilla Black-whiskered VireoVireo altiloquus Blue Mountain VireoVireo osburni Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius Brown-capped VireoVireo leucophrys Cassin's VireoVireo cassinii Chivi VireoVireo chivi

Heard a Gray Vireo?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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