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

Japanese Waxwing

Bombycilla japonica

A sleek, gregarious passerine distinguished by its prominent crest and vibrant red-tipped tail feathers, native to the East Palearctic.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin, metallic trill or 'sreee' that is sharper and higher in frequency than that of the Bohemian Waxwing.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:54

Rec. Bo Shunqi 薄顺奇 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike its relatives, it lacks the waxy red appendages on the secondary wing feathers.
The tail features a distinctive red terminal band, contrasting with the yellow band of the Bohemian and Cedar waxwings.
It maintains a specialized diet primarily consisting of mistletoe berries and other fruits, supplemented by insects in summer.
The species is currently classified as Near Threatened due to habitat loss and its popularity in the illegal cage bird trade.
It is highly nomadic, with wintering populations fluctuating significantly based on the biennial success of fruit crops.

Habitat

Breeds in coniferous forests; winters in open woodlands, orchards, and urban parks containing berry-bearing trees.

Range

Breeds in the Russian Far East and Northeast China; winters primarily in Japan, Korea, and eastern China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum

Heard a Japanese Waxwing?

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