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

Northern Shrike

Lanius borealis

The Northern Shrike is a medium-sized predatory songbird of the far north, distinguished by its black mask, hooked beak, and raptor-like hunting behavior.

What it sounds like

A varied mix of liquid warbles, harsh chatters, and mechanical trills, often interspersed with mimicry of other bird species.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Seth Beaudreault (Toolik Field Station) · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Known as the 'Butcherbird' for its habit of impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire to store food or secure it for processing.
Lacks the strong talons of true raptors, instead using a specialized notched beak called a tomial tooth to kill prey by severing the spinal cord.
It is a skilled vocal mimic, capable of imitating the songs of smaller birds to lure them within striking distance.
One of the few passerines that regularly hunts vertebrate prey, including small mammals and birds nearly its own size.
Breeds in the subarctic taiga and migrates south to the northern United States and southern Canada during the winter months.

Habitat

Open brushland, forest edges, and semi-open taiga or tundra scrub.

Range

Breeds across Alaska and northern Canada; winters in the northern half of the United States.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bay-backed ShrikeLanius vittatus Brown ShrikeLanius cristatus Bull-headed ShrikeLanius bucephalus Burmese ShrikeLanius collurioides Chinese Gray ShrikeLanius sphenocercus Emin's ShrikeLanius gubernator Giant ShrikeLanius giganteus Gray-backed FiscalLanius excubitoroides

Heard a Northern Shrike?

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