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

Tree Pipit

Anthus trivialis

A slender, streaked passerine of the Motacillidae family, the Tree Pipit is renowned for its elaborate aerial 'parachute' song flight. It is visually similar to the Meadow Pipit but is distinguished by its stouter bill and stronger preference for wooded habitats.

What it sounds like

A loud, accelerating series of 'tsee' notes ending in a long, drawn-out 'see-er see-er' flourish; flight call is a hoarse, buzzy 'speez'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Pascal Christe · SwitzerlandCC BY-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Performs a distinctive display flight where it rises from a high perch and glides down on stiff wings while singing.
Possesses a short, strongly curved hindclaw, which is an evolutionary adaptation for perching on tree branches.
Lays remarkably variable eggs, with patterns ranging from grey and brown to pinkish-red to counter brood parasitism.
Is a long-distance migrant, with some populations traveling over 5,000 miles between breeding and wintering grounds.
Unlike many other pipits, it is rarely found in open treeless landscapes, requiring scattered trees for song posts.

Habitat

Open woodland, forest edges, heaths with scattered trees, and clearings with tall perches.

Range

Breeds across the Palearctic from Europe to Central Asia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

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 Tree Pipit?

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Identify a bird by its song