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

Purple-throated Mountain-gem

Lampornis calolaemus

A medium-sized hummingbird of Central American highlands, notable for the male's striking iridescent violet throat and prominent white post-ocular stripe.

What it sounds like

Sharp, high-pitched 'tsit' or 'seet' notes; the song is a low, dry, mechanical-sounding rattle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Paul Driver · Costa RicaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Displays extreme sexual dimorphism; females lack the purple throat and instead feature rich cinnamon-buff underparts.
A primary pollinator for montane plant families such as Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae, and Rubiaceae.
Males are highly territorial and aggressively defend high-quality nectar sources from both rivals and other hummingbird species.
Often engages in 'trap-lining' behavior, following a predictable daily circuit to visit specific flowering plants.
Constructs a cup-shaped nest primarily out of moss and spiderwebs, typically situated on a low branch or vine.

Habitat

Humid montane forests, cloud forests, and secondary growth edges.

Range

Mountains of southern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and western Panama.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gemLampornis amethystinus Blue-throated Mountain-gemLampornis clemenciae Green-breasted Mountain-gemLampornis sybillae Green-throated Mountain-gemLampornis viridipallens White-bellied Mountain-gemLampornis hemileucus White-throated Mountain-gemLampornis castaneoventris White-throated Mountain-gemLampornis castaneoventris

Heard a Purple-throated Mountain-gem?

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