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

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis

A small, energetic songbird of coniferous forests characterized by its blue-gray back, rusty underparts, and a bold black stripe through the eye.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, nasal, and persistent 'yank-yank' that resembles the sound of a toy tin horn.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Denis Dujardin · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They smear sticky coniferous resin around the entrance of their nest hole to deter predators and competitors.
To avoid getting stuck in their own resin traps, they fly directly into the nest hole without landing on the rim.
The species is known for 'irruptions,' where large numbers migrate far south of their normal range when northern cone crops fail.
Unlike woodpeckers, they can descend tree trunks headfirst thanks to a specialized, enlarged hind toe.
They frequently cache extra food by wedging seeds into bark crevices and hammering them into place with their bills.

Habitat

Boreal and montane coniferous forests, including spruce, fir, and pine stands.

Range

Widespread across North America, breeding from Alaska across Canada and the northern U.S., extending south into the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Algerian NuthatchSitta ledanti Bahama NuthatchSitta insularis Beautiful NuthatchSitta formosa Blue NuthatchSitta azurea Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla Burmese NuthatchSitta neglecta Chestnut-bellied NuthatchSitta cinnamoventris Chestnut-vented NuthatchSitta nagaensis

Heard a Red-breasted Nuthatch?

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