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

Sedge Wren

Cistothorus stellaris

A small, elusive wren of wet meadows known for its streaked upperparts and highly nomadic breeding behavior. It is frequently heard but rarely seen as it skulks through dense, low vegetation.

What it sounds like

A dry, staccato series of introductory chips followed by a rapid, wooden rattle: 'chap-chap-chap-trrrrrrr'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:20

Rec. Valerie Heemstra · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the most nomadic territorial birds in North America, frequently shifting breeding locations between its first and second broods.
Males typically construct multiple 'dummy nests'—sometimes more than a dozen—within their territory to confuse predators.
Formerly known as the Short-billed Marsh Wren, it is distinguished from the Marsh Wren by its streaked crown and preference for drier sites.
They are known to sing throughout the night during the peak of the breeding season to defend territories in dense cover.
The species is highly sensitive to local moisture levels, often abandoning sites if the soil becomes too dry or the water too deep.

Habitat

Damp meadows, sedge marshes, and upland grassy fields with moist soil.

Range

Breeds in south-central Canada and the north-central United States; winters in the Southeastern US and along the Gulf Coast.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Apolinar's WrenCistothorus apolinari Grass WrenCistothorus platensis Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris Merida WrenCistothorus meridae

Heard a Sedge Wren?

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