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

Purplish-backed Jay

Cyanocorax beecheii

The Purplish-backed Jay is a large, social corvid endemic to western Mexico, recognized by its contrasting black plumage and deep violet-blue upperparts.

What it sounds like

A loud, nasal, and repetitive scold often described as 'raugh-raugh' or 'cha-cha-cha,' interspersed with clear whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is the largest species within the Cyanocorax genus, reaching lengths of up to 40 centimeters.
They practice cooperative breeding, where previous years' offspring assist the dominant pair in raising new nestlings.
Adult birds feature striking bright yellow irises, whereas juveniles possess dark brown or blackish eyes.
Their diet is highly opportunistic and omnivorous, consisting of seeds, fruit, invertebrates, and small vertebrates.
The species is highly social and typically travels in noisy family groups of five to twelve individuals.

Habitat

Lowland deciduous forests, thorn scrub, and coastal mangroves.

Range

Northwestern Mexico, restricted to the Pacific slope from southern Sonora to Nayarit.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Azure JayCyanocorax caeruleus Azure-naped JayCyanocorax heilprini Black-chested JayCyanocorax affinis Black-throated Magpie-JayCyanocorax colliei Brown JayCyanocorax morio Bushy-crested JayCyanocorax melanocyaneus Cayenne JayCyanocorax cayanus Curl-crested JayCyanocorax cristatellus

Heard a Purplish-backed Jay?

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