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

Gunnison Sage-Grouse

Centrocercus minimus

A sagebrush-obligate galliform distinguished by its complex lekking displays and smaller size compared to its close relative, the Greater Sage-Grouse.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic series of liquid 'plopping' or 'popping' sounds, punctuated by mechanical wing-swishing and tail-feather rattles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:20

Rec. Andrew Spencer · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formally recognized as a distinct species from the Greater Sage-Grouse only in the year 2000 based on genetic and behavioral data.
Males possess distinctive, long, hair-like filoplume feathers on the back of the neck that are more prominent than those of their larger relatives.
The species is roughly one-third smaller than the Greater Sage-Grouse and exhibits more distinct white banding on its tail feathers.
During courtship, males perform a unique sequence of 'plopping' sounds by inflating and snapping yellow esophageal air sacs.
It is currently listed as Federally Endangered, with the vast majority of the population restricted to the Gunnison Basin in Colorado.

Habitat

High-altitude sagebrush steppe ecosystems dominated by mountain big sagebrush.

Range

Fragmented pockets of southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Greater Sage-GrouseCentrocercus urophasianus

Heard a Gunnison Sage-Grouse?

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