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

House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

The House Wren is a small, energetic songbird recognized by its subdued brown plumage, upright tail, and remarkably loud, bubbling song. It is a highly adaptable cavity nester frequently found in close proximity to human dwellings.

What it sounds like

A long, rapid series of liquid trills and rattles that typically rises and then cascades downward in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:21

Rec. Rory Nefdt · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males often build multiple 'dummy nests' made of sticks to give females several options for a final nesting site.
They are fiercely territorial and are known to puncture the eggs of other cavity-nesting species to reduce competition.
The House Wren has one of the largest latitudinal breeding ranges of any native songbird in the Western Hemisphere.
A single pair can forage several thousand insects, including grasshoppers and beetles, to feed a single brood.
Despite their plain appearance, their complex songs can contain over 30 different syllables and are delivered at high volumes.

Habitat

Open woodlands, forest edges, suburban gardens, and brushy residential areas.

Range

Breeds across North America and Southern Canada; winters in the southern US and Mexico; resident populations exist throughout Central and South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Clarion WrenTroglodytes tanneri Cobb's WrenTroglodytes cobbi Cozumel WrenTroglodytes beani Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes Grenada WrenTroglodytes grenadensis Kalinago WrenTroglodytes martinicensis Kalinago WrenTroglodytes martinicensis Mountain WrenTroglodytes solstitialis

Heard a House Wren?

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