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

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

A refined and secretive member of the Melospiza genus, the Lincoln's Sparrow is characterized by its delicate features and preference for dense, wet thickets.

What it sounds like

A sweet, liquid, and complex song with bubbling trills similar to a House Wren; the call is a sharp, flat 'tsip'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:57

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

Field notes

Named by John James Audubon in 1833 to honor his young companion Thomas Lincoln, who collected the first specimen in Labrador.
Known for its 'skulking' behavior, it often remains hidden in low vegetation and is far more elusive than the related Song Sparrow.
Its plumage features a distinctive buffy wash across the breast and flanks, overlaid with very fine, needle-like black streaks.
Unlike many congeners, it is primarily a solitary migrant and rarely joins large single-species flocks during the winter.
Breeding males are known to sing from concealed perches within dense shrubs rather than exposed treetops.

Habitat

Boreal bogs, subalpine willow thickets, and wet montane meadows.

Range

Breeds across Alaska, Canada, and the high-altitude Western US; winters in the Southern US, Mexico, and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Song SparrowMelospiza melodia Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana

Heard a Lincoln's 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