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

Spotted Towhee

Pipilo maculatus

A large, bold sparrow of the western thickets, easily recognized by its dark hood, rufous flanks, and white-spotted wings and back.

What it sounds like

A buzzy, ascending 'zhreee' call and a song consisting of one or two introductory notes followed by a fast trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:20

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

Field notes

Employs a 'double-scratch' foraging technique, hopping backward and forward to uncover seeds and insects in leaf litter.
Adults possess striking, bright red eyes, while juveniles have brownish eyes.
Was previously considered the same species as the Eastern Towhee under the name 'Rufous-sided Towhee' until 1995.
The white spots on its back act as disruptive coloration, helping it blend into dappled sunlight beneath shrubs.
Though they spend most time on the ground, males sing from high perches to defend their territory during breeding season.

Habitat

Chaparral, shrubby backyards, thickets, and forest edges with dense undergrowth.

Range

Western North America, from southern Canada through the western United States to highland Mexico and Guatemala.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bermuda TowheePipilo naufragus Collared TowheePipilo ocai Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus Green-tailed TowheePipilo chlorurus

Heard a Spotted Towhee?

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