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

Little Bunting

Emberiza pusilla

The Little Bunting is a small, streaky passerine distinguished by its rufous facial patterns and prominent white eye-ring. It is a long-distance migrant that breeds in the northern taiga and winters in subtropical Asia.

What it sounds like

A sharp, high-pitched 'zik' or 'pst' contact call; the song is a sweet, melodic, and fast-paced warble.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. MERCIER Christophe · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the smallest members of the Emberizidae family, typically measuring only 12 to 13.5 centimeters in length.
Unlike many other bunting species, the plumage of males and females is nearly identical throughout the year.
The species is known for its 'nervous' behavior, frequently flicking its tail and raising its crown feathers when agitated.
During migration, it is a rare but regular vagrant to Western Europe, often appearing in coastal scrub habitats.
Its diet shifts seasonally, transitioning from protein-rich insects during the breeding season to small seeds during the winter.

Habitat

Open coniferous forests, birch or willow scrub near water, and agricultural edges or weedy fields during winter.

Range

Breeds across the Palearctic from northern Scandinavia to the Russian Far East; winters in South Asia, Southern China, and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced BuntingEmberiza spodocephala Black-headed BuntingEmberiza melanocephala Brown-rumped BuntingEmberiza affinis Cabanis's BuntingEmberiza cabanisi Cape BuntingEmberiza capensis Chestnut BuntingEmberiza rutila Chestnut-eared BuntingEmberiza fucata Cinereous BuntingEmberiza cineracea

Heard a Little 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