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

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

The Snow Bunting is a hardy, high-arctic specialist and the most northerly breeding passerine in the world.

What it sounds like

A musical, rippling warble; common calls include a dry, rolling rattle and a sharp 'teez' note.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. bert de bruin · NorwayCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It breeds further north than any other songbird, with some nests recorded near the 83rd parallel.
Males arrive on the breeding grounds up to six weeks before females to claim territories in sub-zero temperatures.
Unlike most birds, they transition to breeding plumage through the physical abrasion of feather tips rather than molting.
During severe winter weather, they are known to roost in communal burrows beneath the snow to conserve heat.
A flock in flight is often referred to as a 'snowflake' due to the flickering white appearance of their wings.

Habitat

High-arctic rocky tundra for breeding; coastal dunes, beaches, and windswept agricultural fields in winter.

Range

Circumpolar Arctic; winters across temperate latitudes of North America and Eurasia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

McKay's BuntingPlectrophenax hyperboreus

Heard a Snow Bunting?

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