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

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

The Rufous-collared Sparrow is a ubiquitous and highly adaptable New World sparrow characterized by its distinctive rufous neck collar and bold facial stripes. It is arguably the most widespread and familiar songbird in South and Central America.

What it sounds like

A series of two to three clear, whistled introductory notes followed by a rapid, shivering trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marcos E. Sosa · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of the genus Zonotrichia native to the Neotropics, separated geographically from its North American relatives.
The species is famous among bioacousticians for its distinct 'dialects,' where song structure changes predictably based on habitat and altitude.
It has an incredible altitudinal range, residing from coastal sea level up to 4,600 meters in the Andean highlands.
While most populations are sedentary, those in the extreme southern parts of Patagonia are known to migrate north during the austral winter.
Their nests are frequently targeted by the brood-parasitic Shiny Cowbird, yet the sparrows remain highly successful breeders.

Habitat

Open and semi-open areas including scrubland, agricultural fields, mountain grasslands, and urban gardens.

Range

Extends from southeastern Mexico and Hispaniola throughout Central and South America to Tierra del Fuego.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Golden-crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapilla Harris's SparrowZonotrichia querula White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis

Heard a Rufous-collared Sparrow?

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