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

Sprague's Pipit

Anthus spragueii

A cryptic, ground-dwelling songbird of the Northern Great Plains, renowned for its spectacular, high-altitude aerial courtship displays.

What it sounds like

A thin, descending, metallic series of 'tsee-er' notes delivered in a rhythmic, cascading sequence during flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Jacob Saucier · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It holds the record for the longest continuous display flight of any bird, occasionally remaining airborne for up to three hours.
Unlike most other pipit species, the Sprague's Pipit rarely exhibits the characteristic rhythmic tail-pumping behavior.
Females construct elaborate domed nests woven from dried grasses, often featuring a hidden side entrance to evade predators.
It is a native prairie specialist, strictly avoiding cultivated agricultural lands in favor of undisturbed grasslands.
The species has experienced a population decline of approximately 75% since 1970 due to the loss of indigenous short-grass habitat.

Habitat

Native short- to mid-grass prairies with specific requirements for grass height and minimal woody encroachment.

Range

Breeds in the northern Great Plains (Canada and US); winters in the southern United States and northern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African PipitAnthus cinnamomeus Alpine PipitAnthus gutturalis American PipitAnthus rubescens Australian PipitAnthus australis Berthelot's PipitAnthus berthelotii Blyth's PipitAnthus godlewskii Buffy PipitAnthus vaalensis Bush PipitAnthus caffer

Heard a Sprague's Pipit?

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