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-winged Sparrow

Peucaea carpalis

A small, elusive sparrow of the Sonoran Desert characterized by its pale gray plumage and distinctive rufous shoulder patches.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, sweet introductory notes followed by a rapid, accelerating trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:46

Rec. Pat Goltz · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Nesting behavior is highly dependent on summer monsoon rains, often delaying breeding until July or August.
The species was believed extinct in the United States for several decades in the early 1900s due to habitat degradation from overgrazing.
It features two thin, dark facial stripes: a postocular stripe behind the eye and a malar stripe along the jaw.
The namesake rufous 'wing' patches are located on the lesser coverts and are frequently concealed by other feathers.
Unlike many North American sparrows, this species is largely sedentary and maintains year-round territories.

Habitat

Arid desert grasslands featuring scattered mesquite, hackberry, and cholla cactus.

Range

South-central Arizona and southward through the Pacific slope of northwestern Mexico to Sinaloa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bachman's SparrowPeucaea aestivalis Black-chested SparrowPeucaea humeralis Botteri's SparrowPeucaea botterii Bridled SparrowPeucaea mystacalis Cassin's SparrowPeucaea cassinii Cinnamon-tailed SparrowPeucaea sumichrasti Stripe-headed SparrowPeucaea ruficauda

Heard a Rufous-winged Sparrow?

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