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 Sparrow

Aimophila rufescens

A large, heavy-billed sparrow of Middle American highlands characterized by its rufous crown and terrestrial habits. It is a non-migratory resident of scrubby edges and undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'tcheek' or 'pynk' call and a hurried song of squeaky chips and clear whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is the largest member of the genus Aimophila, reaching lengths of up to 18.5 centimeters.
The species is distinguished by a bold dark malar stripe and a gray-bordered rufous cap.
Unlike many temperate sparrows, the Rusty Sparrow is strictly non-migratory throughout its range.
It is primarily a ground-forager, often scratching through leaf litter for seeds and small invertebrates.
Its nest is a bulky, well-concealed cup of dried grass and hair usually placed very low in dense vegetation.

Habitat

Humid to semi-arid montane forest edges, pine-oak woodlands, and brushy hillsides.

Range

Central Mexico south through Central America to northwestern Costa Rica.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Oaxaca SparrowAimophila notosticta Rufous-crowned SparrowAimophila ruficeps Rusty SparrowAimophila rufescens

Heard a Rusty Sparrow?

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