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

Hammond's Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii

A small, insectivorous bird of the western mountains, the Hammond's Flycatcher is a forest-dwelling member of the notoriously difficult-to-identify Empidonax genus.

What it sounds like

A dry, three-part song consisting of a low, buzzy 'tsur-r-rp', a high 'peep', and a sharp 'gr-r-ick'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:56

Rec. Paul Marvin · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses a notably short, dark bill and long primary wing feathers compared to the very similar Dusky Flycatcher.
Named after William Alexander Hammond, a U.S. Army Surgeon General who collected the first specimens.
Nests almost exclusively high in the canopy of mature coniferous or mixed-evergreen forests.
Exhibits a vigorous 'tail-flick' behavior that is more frequent than many of its close relatives.
During migration, it frequently utilizes lower-elevation riparian corridors before returning to high-altitude breeding grounds.

Habitat

Mature coniferous and mixed forests, often favoring Douglas-fir, spruce, or fir stands with high canopy closure.

Range

Breeds in Western North America from Alaska to the southwestern U.S.; winters in Mexico and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum Black-capped FlycatcherEmpidonax atriceps Buff-breasted FlycatcherEmpidonax fulvifrons Dusky FlycatcherEmpidonax oberholseri Gray FlycatcherEmpidonax wrightii Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus Pine FlycatcherEmpidonax affinis

Heard a Hammond's Flycatcher?

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Identify a bird by its song