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

Thick-billed Kingbird

Tyrannus crassirostris

A large, robust flycatcher distinguished by its exceptionally thick bill and dusky plumage, primarily inhabiting riparian corridors in Mexico and the American Southwest.

What it sounds like

A loud, distinctive, and burry 'purrr-éee' or 'brrr-reit' that rises in pitch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jules Evens · MexicoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It possesses the heaviest and most massive bill of any species in the Tyrannus genus, adapted for capturing large insects.
Unlike many other kingbirds, this species lacks a bright yellow belly, showing instead a pale, sulfurous wash.
They are aggressively territorial and are known to fearlessly chase away much larger predators like hawks and ravens.
In the United States, they are highly localized and primarily found in specific sycamore-lined canyons in Arizona and New Mexico.
Their diet is primarily insectivorous, but they are opportunistic enough to occasionally consume small lizards and fruit.

Habitat

Arid riparian woodlands, particularly groves of Arizona sycamore, cottonwood, and oak near water.

Range

Western Mexico through the Pacific slope, extending north into southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cassin's KingbirdTyrannus vociferans Couch's KingbirdTyrannus couchii Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savana Giant KingbirdTyrannus cubensis Gray KingbirdTyrannus dominicensis Loggerhead KingbirdTyrannus caudifasciatus Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus

Heard a Thick-billed Kingbird?

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