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

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

The Lapland Longspur is a robust, ground-dwelling songbird of the Arctic tundra, distinguished by its striking breeding plumage and an elongated hind claw. It is a highly migratory species that forms massive, nomadic flocks in open landscapes during the winter.

What it sounds like

A musical, flute-like song delivered in flight; common calls include a dry, rattling 'prrrrt' and a sharp 'tyee' whistle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. AUDEVARD Aurélien · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named for its exceptionally long, straight hind claw, which provides stability when walking on snow or soft tundra moss.
Males perform elaborate 'skylarking' displays, singing a liquid, melodic song while hovering in the air before parachuting to the ground.
During winter, they form enormous mixed flocks with Horned Larks and Snow Buntings, sometimes numbering in the tens of thousands.
It has a circumpolar breeding distribution, making it one of the most abundant and widespread songbirds in the global Arctic.
The species exhibits dramatic seasonal dimorphism; males swap their cryptic winter brown for a bold black face, white eyestripe, and rich chestnut nape in spring.

Habitat

Arctic tundra and sedge meadows during breeding; shortgrass prairies, stubble fields, and airports during winter.

Range

Breeds across the High Arctic of North America, Europe, and Asia; winters in the temperate mid-latitudes of these continents.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcarius ornatus Smith's LongspurCalcarius pictus

Heard a Lapland Longspur?

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