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 Sparrow

Chondestes grammacus

A large, distinctively marked sparrow of open country, recognizable by its bold harlequin facial pattern and white-tipped tail feathers.

What it sounds like

A rich, varied series of clear whistles and trills interspersed with characteristic mechanical-sounding buzzes and 'chur' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ed Pandolfino · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the sole member of the genus Chondestes, occupying a unique evolutionary niche among American sparrows.
During courtship, the male performs a 'turkey-strut' display, drooping its wings and spreading its tail while walking on the ground.
The species is known for its complex, melodic song that can last up to 20 seconds, featuring a mix of clear notes and buzzy trills.
Lark Sparrows often exhibit 'extended' parental care, sometimes associating in small family groups well after the young have fledged.
While primarily ground nesters, they are opportunistic and will occasionally reuse the abandoned nests of Northern Mockingbirds or Thrasher species.

Habitat

Open grasslands, sagebrush flats, savanna, and edges of cultivated fields with scattered trees or shrubs.

Range

Breeds across much of the western and central United States and southern Canada; winters in the southern U.S. and throughout Mexico.

Heard a Lark Sparrow?

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