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

Seaside Sparrow

Ammospiza maritima

A large, dark-plumaged sparrow specialized for life in coastal salt marshes, characterized by a long bill and a dingy, streaks-heavy appearance.

What it sounds like

A harsh, buzzy, and mechanical 'ok-a-chee-drrr' reminiscent of a muffled Red-winged Blackbird song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Sue Riffe · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses specialized supraorbital salt glands that allow the bird to drink seawater and excrete excess salt.
One subspecies, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow, famously went extinct in 1987 due to habitat loss and pesticide use in Florida.
Unlike many other sparrows that hop, the Seaside Sparrow typically walks or runs along the mudflats while foraging.
Their diet is unique among sparrows, heavily featuring marine invertebrates like small crabs, snails, and amphipods.
They build open-cup nests in marsh grass just inches above the high-tide line, leaving them highly vulnerable to sea-level rise.

Habitat

Tidal salt marshes dominated by cordgrass (Spartina) and rushes.

Range

Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States, from New Hampshire south to Texas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

LeConte's SparrowAmmospiza leconteii Nelson's SparrowAmmospiza nelsoni Saltmarsh SparrowAmmospiza caudacuta

Heard a Seaside 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