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

Island Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma insularis

The Island Scrub-Jay is a large, vibrant corvid and the only bird species endemic to a single island in the contiguous United States. It is characterized by its deep blue plumage and significantly larger size compared to its mainland relatives.

What it sounds like

A series of harsh, raspy 'shreep' calls, generally deeper and more resonant than those of the California Scrub-Jay.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sue Riffe · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is found exclusively on Santa Cruz Island, California, making it one of the most range-restricted birds in North America.
Compared to the California Scrub-Jay, it is roughly 15% larger with a noticeably heavier, more hooked bill for processing large acorns.
This species is sedentary and non-migratory, with individuals typically maintaining the same territory year-round for their entire lives.
Genetic evidence suggests the species diverged from its mainland ancestors approximately 150,000 years ago.
While the population is stable, it is considered vulnerable to extinction because its entire global range is susceptible to single catastrophic events or diseases.

Habitat

Oak woodlands, Bishop pine forests, and dense chaparral scrub.

Range

Santa Cruz Island, California Channel Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

California Scrub-JayAphelocoma californica Florida Scrub-JayAphelocoma coerulescens Mexican JayAphelocoma wollweberi Transvolcanic JayAphelocoma ultramarina Unicolored JayAphelocoma unicolor Woodhouse's Scrub-JayAphelocoma woodhouseii

Heard a Island Scrub-Jay?

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