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

Montezuma Quail

Cyrtonyx montezumae

A secretive, ground-dwelling bird known for its striking harlequin facial pattern and remarkable reliance on cryptic camouflage.

What it sounds like

A soft, descending, ventriloquial whistle or a tremulous, low-pitched whinny.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:17

Rec. David Tattersley · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Known as the 'fool quail' due to its habit of crouching motionless and flushing only when nearly stepped on.
Possesses specialized, long, sickle-shaped claws used for digging up underground tubers and bulbs, particularly woodsorrel.
Unlike most North American quail, its breeding season is timed to coincide with late-summer monsoon rains.
The male's plumage features a unique combination of a bold black-and-white mask and white-spotted dark flanks.
They are highly sedentary and may spend their entire lives within a very small home range if food and cover are sufficient.

Habitat

Mountainous open oak, pine-oak woodlands, and grassy slopes with tall bunchgrass cover.

Range

Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) and the highlands of Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ocellated QuailCyrtonyx ocellatus

Heard a Montezuma Quail?

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