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

Palm Warbler

Setophaga palmarum

A ground-foraging wood-warbler easily recognized by its constant tail-wagging and distinctive rufous cap during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A weak, buzzy, monotonous trill; the common call is a sharp, dry 'check' note.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:18

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

Field notes

It is one of the earliest warblers to migrate north in the spring, often arriving well before most other wood-warblers.
Despite its name, it spends the majority of its time foraging on the ground or in low shrubs rather than in palm trees.
There are two distinct subspecies: the 'Yellow' Palm Warbler of the east and the more widespread, drabber 'Western' Palm Warbler.
It is characterized by a near-constant vertical pumping of its tail, a behavioral trait rare among other members of its family.
Unlike most wood-warblers that nest in the canopy, it typically builds its nest on or near the ground, often tucked into sphagnum moss.

Habitat

Breeds in open boreal bogs and muskeg; winters in weedy fields, forest edges, and scrubby coastal areas.

Range

Breeds across the northern United States and Canada; winters in the southeastern U.S., the Caribbean, and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Adelaide's WarblerSetophaga adelaidae American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla Arrowhead WarblerSetophaga pharetra Bahama WarblerSetophaga flavescens Barbuda WarblerSetophaga subita Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens Black-throated Gray WarblerSetophaga nigrescens

Heard a Palm Warbler?

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