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

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

A large, stream-dwelling wood-warbler characterized by its constant teetering motion and specialized lifestyle along fast-flowing forest brooks.

What it sounds like

A loud, ringing song starting with three or four clear, slurred whistles followed by a descending jumble of chips; the call is a sharp, metallic 'chink'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:57

Rec. Bobby Wilcox · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the earliest migratory wood-warblers to arrive on northern breeding grounds, often appearing in late March.
The species serves as an important bioindicator of high water quality and healthy riparian ecosystems.
Distinguishable from the Northern Waterthrush by its unstreaked white throat, bubblegum-pink legs, and broader white supercilium.
It is one of the few warbler species that regularly consumes small fish and large aquatic insect larvae like dragonflies.
Pairs are highly territorial, defending long linear stretches of stream that can extend up to several hundred meters.

Habitat

Shaded, clear, fast-flowing perennial streams and rocky ravines within mature deciduous or mixed forests.

Range

Breeds across the eastern United States and southern Ontario; winters in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis

Heard a Louisiana Waterthrush?

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Identify a bird by its song