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

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

A medium-sized forest thrush characterized by its olive-brown upperparts and distinctive buff-colored 'spectacles'.

What it sounds like

A series of ethereal, flute-like phrases that spiral upward in pitch; call is a sharp, liquid 'whit'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 3:27

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

Field notes

Distinctive 'buffy spectacles' consist of a pale eye-ring connected to a buffy line extending toward the bill.
The species is divided into two main groups: the 'Russet-backed' thrush of the Pacific coast and the 'Olive-backed' thrush of the interior and east.
It is a long-distance nocturnal migrant, with some individuals traveling from northern boreal forests to as far south as Argentina.
During migration, they are known to give 'overflight calls'—short, liquid 'peep' notes heard from the night sky.
Their diet shifts seasonally from primarily protein-rich insects during the breeding season to lipid-rich berries during autumn migration.

Habitat

Coniferous or mixed forests with dense undergrowth, frequently near riparian zones or mossy thickets.

Range

Breeds across Alaska, Canada, and the northern/western US; winters in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bicknell's ThrushCatharus bicknelli Black-billed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus gracilirostris Black-headed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus mexicanus Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimus Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus Orange-billed Nightingale-ThrushCatharus aurantiirostris Ruddy-capped Nightingale-ThrushCatharus frantzii Russet Nightingale-ThrushCatharus occidentalis

Heard a Swainson's Thrush?

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