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 Warbler

Limnothlypis swainsonii

A shy, cryptically colored wood-warbler of the American Southeast, distinguished by its heavy bill and preference for dense, shaded undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A loud, ringing series of clear, slurred whistles, often starting with two notes followed by a downward-spiraling finish.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:58

Rec. Sue Riffe · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is considered one of the most secretive and difficult-to-observe songbirds in North America.
Possesses an unusually large, wedge-shaped bill specialized for flipping leaf litter to find insects.
Unlike most wood-warblers, it spends the vast majority of its time foraging on the ground rather than in the canopy.
Its nests are remarkably large and bulky for its size, often resembling a random clump of dead leaves caught in a thicket.
The species was named by John James Audubon in honor of his friend, the British ornithologist William Swainson.

Habitat

Bottomland hardwood swamps, canebrakes, and dense rhododendron or mountain laurel thickets.

Range

Breeds in the Southeastern United States; winters in the Caribbean (mainly Cuba) and parts of Central America.

Heard a Swainson's Warbler?

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