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

Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow

Melozone kieneri

A shy, ground-dwelling sparrow endemic to Mexico, recognized by its namesake rufous crown and distinctive white facial markings.

What it sounds like

A series of thin, high-pitched 'seee' notes followed by a rapid, accelerating trill of metallic squeaks.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:20

Rec. Richard E. Webster · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is closely related to towhees and was previously classified within the genus Pyrgisoma.
The species typically forages by scratching through leaf litter in dense undergrowth using a 'double-scratch' hop technique.
It features a characteristic black spot in the center of its white breast, though this can vary in prominence between subspecies.
The specific epithet 'kieneri' commemorates the 19th-century French zoologist and shell expert Louis Charles Kiener.
Unlike many north-temperate sparrows, this species is a non-migratory, year-round resident across its entire range.

Habitat

Arid to semi-humid scrub, deciduous forests, and dense thickets, particularly in ravines and near watercourses.

Range

Endemic to western and central Mexico, ranging from southeastern Sonora south to Oaxaca.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abert's TowheeMelozone aberti Cabanis's Ground-SparrowMelozone cabanisi California TowheeMelozone crissalis Canyon TowheeMelozone fusca Gray-crowned Ground-SparrowMelozone occipitalis Rusty-crowned Ground-SparrowMelozone kieneri White-eared Ground-SparrowMelozone leucotis White-faced Ground-SparrowMelozone biarcuata

Heard a Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow?

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