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

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

A small, forest-dwelling North American songbird characterized by its spotted breast and ethereal, flute-like vocalizations.

What it sounds like

A haunting, crystalline song featuring a single clear introductory note followed by complex, descending flute-like phrases.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 5:31

Rec. Valerie Heemstra · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of the genus Catharus that regularly winters in North America rather than migrating to the tropics.
The Hermit Thrush is distinguished from similar thrushes by its rufous-colored tail which contrasts with its duller brown back.
It frequently performs a characteristic behavior of quickly flicking its wings and slowly raising then lowering its tail.
To forage, it may vibrate its feet against the ground (foot-quivering) to startle soil-dwelling invertebrates into moving.
The species is the official state bird of Vermont.

Habitat

Coniferous or mixed forests, often preferring areas with dense undergrowth or forest edges.

Range

Breeds across the boreal forests of Canada, Alaska, and the mountainous western/northeastern US; winters in the southern US and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Hermit Thrush?

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Identify a bird by its song