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

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

A small, streaky wetland passerine characterized by the male's striking black hood and white collar during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, hesitant song of 3-4 metallic notes, typically described as 'zrit-zrit-zrit-tsee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · JapanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males develop their jet-black breeding plumage through feather tip abrasion rather than a spring molt.
They are known for high rates of extra-pair paternity, with many nests containing chicks sired by neighboring males.
The species performs a 'broken-wing' distraction display to lure predators away from its low-slung nest.
While primarily insectivorous in summer, they transition almost entirely to seeds during the winter months.
There are approximately 15-20 recognized subspecies, with bill thickness varying significantly by regional diet.

Habitat

Reed beds, marshes, wetlands, and damp riverside scrub; occasionally farmland in winter.

Range

Widespread throughout Europe and temperate Asia, with some populations migrating to North Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-faced BuntingEmberiza spodocephala Black-headed BuntingEmberiza melanocephala Brown-rumped BuntingEmberiza affinis Cabanis's BuntingEmberiza cabanisi Cape BuntingEmberiza capensis Chestnut BuntingEmberiza rutila Chestnut-eared BuntingEmberiza fucata Cinereous BuntingEmberiza cineracea

Heard a Reed Bunting?

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