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 Warbler

Setophaga occidentalis

A small, elusive wood-warbler of the Pacific Northwest canopy, distinguished by its brilliant yellow face and preference for old-growth conifers.

What it sounds like

A series of high, buzzy notes often transcribed as 'zeezee-zeezee-zeezee-zeel'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Frequently hybridizes with the Townsend's Warbler in overlap zones within the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains.
Forages primarily in the outermost tips of high-canopy branches, often making it difficult to observe from the forest floor.
Males possess a striking black throat and bib that contrasts sharply against a completely yellow head and white underparts.
Nests are typically constructed 20 to 40 feet high in conifers, well-hidden by dense needles and moss.
Breeding site fidelity is high, with individuals often returning to the same small patch of forest year after year.

Habitat

Mature and old-growth coniferous forests, particularly Douglas-fir, redwood, and montane pine-oak woodlands.

Range

Breeds along the West Coast from Washington to California; winters in the mountains of Mexico and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Adelaide's WarblerSetophaga adelaidae American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla Arrowhead WarblerSetophaga pharetra Bahama WarblerSetophaga flavescens Barbuda WarblerSetophaga subita Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens Black-throated Gray WarblerSetophaga nigrescens

Heard a Hermit Warbler?

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

Identify a bird by its song