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

Spruce Grouse

Canachites canadensis

A medium-sized, dark-plumaged grouse of the northern boreal forests, famously known as the 'fool hen' for its lack of fear toward humans.

What it sounds like

Generally quiet; males produce low-pitched hooting and mechanical wing-claps, while females give sharp clucks and aggressive 'kuts'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bruce Lagerquist · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

During winter, their gizzards and digestive tracts enlarge to process a diet consisting almost entirely of fibrous conifer needles.
Males perform a unique courtship display called a 'wing-clap,' snapping their wings together over their backs to create a loud cracking sound.
They grow specialized comb-like fringes on their toes called pectinations each autumn, which act as snowshoes for walking on deep snow.
The species is highly specialized for life in coniferous forests, rarely venturing into deciduous areas or open grasslands.
Males are distinguished by a bold black throat and breast, contrasted with a vibrant red 'comb' of bare skin above each eye.

Habitat

Dense coniferous forests, particularly those dominated by black spruce, jack pine, or tamarack.

Range

Boreal regions across Alaska and Canada, extending into the northernmost United States including New England and the Rockies.

Heard a Spruce Grouse?

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