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

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

An elegant, pale gray flycatcher distinguished by its extremely long, forked tail and vibrant salmon-pink underwings.

What it sounds like

A series of sharp, buzzy 'pik' or 'keck' notes and a rhythmic, chattering dawn song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:19

Rec. Sacha Balavoine · CanadaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The tail can reach up to nine inches in length, often accounting for over half of the bird's total body length.
During courtship, males perform a spectacular 'sky dance' involving high-altitude zig-zags and backward somersaults.
Highly territorial, they are known to fearlessly dive-bomb much larger predators like Red-tailed Hawks and crows.
They frequently incorporate human-made materials such as string, cloth, and cigarette filters into their cup-shaped nests.
This species is the state bird of Oklahoma and was featured on the 2005 Oklahoma state quarter.

Habitat

Open grasslands, savannas, and agricultural fields with scattered trees or utility lines for perching.

Range

Breeds in the south-central United States and northern Mexico, wintering south through Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cassin's KingbirdTyrannus vociferans Couch's KingbirdTyrannus couchii Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savana Giant KingbirdTyrannus cubensis Gray KingbirdTyrannus dominicensis Loggerhead KingbirdTyrannus caudifasciatus Snowy-throated KingbirdTyrannus niveigularis

Heard a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher?

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