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

LeConte's Thrasher

Toxostoma lecontei

The LeConte's Thrasher is a pale, elusive desert mimid specialized for life in the most arid regions of the North American Southwest.

What it sounds like

A complex, musical series of clear, whistled phrases; calls include a sharp, rising 'su-weep' or 'whit'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:48

Rec. Scott Olmstead · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the palest of all thrasher species, providing near-perfect camouflage against alkaline desert soils.
Highly terrestrial, this bird prefers to outrun predators on its long, dark legs rather than taking flight.
It is an exceptionally early nester, often beginning its breeding cycle in January to avoid the extreme heat of the desert summer.
The species is remarkably sedentary, with individuals often spending their entire lives within a very small home range.
Using its deeply decurved bill, it probes and digs into the soil and leaf litter to hunt for insects, spiders, and small lizards.

Habitat

Open, sparsely vegetated desert scrub, particularly areas with saltbush, creosote, and sandy or alkaline soils.

Range

Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, specifically the Mojave, Sonoran, and Colorado Deserts.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bendire's ThrasherToxostoma bendirei Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum California ThrasherToxostoma redivivum Cozumel ThrasherToxostoma guttatum Crissal ThrasherToxostoma crissale Curve-billed ThrasherToxostoma curvirostre Gray ThrasherToxostoma cinereum Long-billed ThrasherToxostoma longirostre

Heard a LeConte's Thrasher?

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