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

Sagebrush Sparrow

Artemisiospiza nevadensis

A pale, ground-dwelling sparrow of the arid Western interior, characterized by its subtle gray plumage and distinctive habit of running with an upright tail.

What it sounds like

A high, thin song consisting of 4-7 introductory notes followed by a descending, rhythmic jumble of tinkling whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Pritam Baruah · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Commonly runs across open ground between shrubs with its tail cocked upward, similar to a miniature roadrunner.
Was historically lumped with the Bell's Sparrow until being recognized as a distinct species by the AOU in 2013.
An obligate sagebrush species, it requires large, continuous tracts of mature sagebrush for successful breeding.
Males establish large breeding territories, often singing from the highest perches available on sagebrush shrubs.
Nests are usually placed deep within the dense foliage of a sagebrush plant to protect eggs from intense solar radiation.

Habitat

Expansive sagebrush flats and high-desert shrub-steppe ecosystems.

Range

Interior Western United States and Great Basin, wintering in the Southwestern US and Northern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bell's SparrowArtemisiospiza belli

Heard a Sagebrush Sparrow?

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Identify a bird by its song