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

Lanceolated Warbler

Locustella lanceolata

The Lanceolated Warbler is a small, elusive Old World warbler known for its heavily streaked plumage and mouse-like behavior within dense vegetation.

What it sounds like

A monotonous, high-pitched mechanical trill similar to a grasshopper, described as a rapid 'tchirrr-r-r-r'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:14

Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Its common and scientific names refer to the distinct 'lanceolate' or spear-shaped dark streaks on its breast and mantle.
It is notoriously secretive, often preferring to run through thick grass like a rodent rather than flying when approached.
The species is a long-distance migrant, breeding in the Siberian taiga and wintering as far south as Indonesia.
Despite its small size, it is a regular autumn vagrant to Western Europe, particularly documented on the Shetland Islands.
The eggs are typically pinkish-white with fine reddish-brown spots, laid in a well-concealed nest on or near the ground.

Habitat

Damp meadows, marshes with tall grass, and scrubby forest edges near water.

Range

Breeds from Northeast Europe across Northern Asia to Japan; winters in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Baikal Bush WarblerLocustella davidi Bamboo WarblerLocustella alfredi Benguet Bush WarblerLocustella seebohmi Brown Bush WarblerLocustella luteoventris Buru Bush WarblerLocustella disturbans Chinese Bush WarblerLocustella tacsanowskia Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia Dalat Bush WarblerLocustella idonea

Heard a Lanceolated 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