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

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei

A small, nomadic songbird of the American West, distinguished by the male's velvety black face and predominantly gray plumage.

What it sounds like

A rapid, tinkling series of high-pitched notes, whistles, and varied mimicry, often sounding more complex than other goldfinches.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Paul Marvin · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species is highly erratic and nomadic, often changing breeding and wintering locations significantly from year to year.
Unlike most goldfinches, Lawrence's Goldfinch has a largely gray body rather than yellow or olive-green.
They are skilled mimics, incorporating the calls of over 40 other bird species into their complex songs.
They have a specialized dietary preference for the seeds of fiddleneck (Amsinckia) and other borage family plants.
Both sexes possess striking yellow wing bars and a yellow patch on the breast, though the male's colors are more intense.

Habitat

Arid oak woodlands, chaparral, and riparian edges near weed-filled fields.

Range

Primarily California and Baja California, wintering erratically into Arizona, New Mexico, and Northern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American GoldfinchSpinus tristis Andean SiskinSpinus spinescens Antillean SiskinSpinus dominicensis Black SiskinSpinus atratus Black-capped SiskinSpinus atriceps Black-chinned SiskinSpinus barbatus Black-headed SiskinSpinus notatus Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus

Heard a Lawrence's Goldfinch?

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