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

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

A small, streaky grassland sparrow characterized by a distinct yellow patch in front of the eye and a short, notched tail.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, insect-like song starting with a few thin 'tsip' notes followed by a dry buzz: 'tsip-tsip-tsip-seeeee-saaaay'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:58

Rec. Greg Irving · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species name 'Savannah' refers to the city in Georgia where the type specimen was collected by Alexander Wilson.
Unlike many other sparrows that hop, the Savannah Sparrow frequently walks or runs through dense grass.
It is highly polytypic with nearly 30 recognized subspecies, including the pale 'Ipswich' Sparrow and the dark 'Belding’s' Sparrow.
They are primarily ground-nesters, concealing their cup-shaped nests deep within thick vegetation or under overhanging grass.
Their diet shifts seasonally, consuming primarily insects and spiders during the summer and seeds in the winter.

Habitat

Open landscapes with low vegetation, including grasslands, meadows, salt marshes, tundra, and agricultural fields.

Range

Breeds across northern North America and the Western US; winters in the southern US, Mexico, and Central America.

Heard a Savannah 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