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

Lark Bunting

Calamospiza melanocorys

A large, thick-billed sparrow of the North American prairies, notable for the male's striking black-and-white breeding plumage and elaborate aerial displays.

What it sounds like

A complex medley of sweet whistles, buzzy trills, and mechanical clicks, often delivered during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:27

Rec. Eric DeFonso · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the official state bird of Colorado, designated in 1931.
Breeding males undergo a dramatic molt from streaked brown to solid black with prominent white wing patches.
Males perform spectacular song flights, ascending steeply before spiraling down while singing to defend territory.
Their local abundance is highly nomadic, shifting annually based on rainfall and grasshopper density.
Outside of the breeding season, they are intensely social, forming wintering flocks that can number in the thousands.

Habitat

Shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies, sagebrush plains, and fallow agricultural fields.

Range

Breeds in the Great Plains of the US and southern Canada; winters in the Southwestern US and northern to central Mexico.

Heard a Lark Bunting?

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