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

Redpoll

Acanthis flammea

The Common Redpoll is a small, hardy finch of the high north, characterized by its streaky brown plumage, black chin, and a distinctive bright red patch on its forehead.

What it sounds like

A rapid, metallic 'chit-chit-chit' flight call and a rising, whistled 'soo-eeet' inquiry.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jesper Lindegren · SwedenCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

They possess an esophageal diverticulum, a specialized throat pouch used to store seeds so they can be eaten later in a warmer or safer location.
To survive subzero Arctic nights, redpolls can tunnel into deep snow to take advantage of its insulating properties.
They are irruptive migrants, moving south in massive numbers only during years when birch and alder seed crops fail in the north.
A single bird can consume up to 40 percent of its body weight in seeds daily to maintain the high metabolic rate required for winter survival.
They are highly social and acrobatic foragers, frequently seen hanging upside down from catkins to extract seeds.

Habitat

Subarctic birch forests, alder thickets, and scrubby tundra during breeding; weedy fields and backyard feeders during winter irruptions.

Range

Circumpolar; breeds across northern North America, Greenland, and Eurasia, wintering south into the northern United States and central Europe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Common RedpollAcanthis flammea

Heard a Redpoll?

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