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

Lucifer Hummingbird

Calothorax lucifer

A small desert hummingbird distinguished by its long, decurved bill and the male's brilliant iridescent magenta throat gorget with elongated lateral feathers.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsip' or 'tcheek' call, with males producing a metallic whistling sound with their wings during territorial displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Grosselet · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The name 'Lucifer' is derived from the Latin for 'light-bringer', referencing the bird's luminous plumage.
Males possess a deeply forked tail that is often held closed to appear as a single narrow spike.
It is a key pollinator for specialized desert flora, particularly the Agave lechuguilla and Ocotillo.
Male courtship involves a 'shuttle' display where they fly rapidly side-to-side before the female while snapping their tail feathers.
The species is one of the few hummingbirds that regularly nests in high-elevation arid canyons of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Habitat

Arid scrublands, desert canyons, and rocky slopes characterized by agave, cacti, and ocotillo.

Range

Northern and central Mexico, with seasonal breeding ranges extending into the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Beautiful HummingbirdCalothorax pulcher

Heard a Lucifer Hummingbird?

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