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 Swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

A sleek aerial insectivore characterized by its shimmering iridescent blue-green upperparts and stark white underparts. It is a highly social cavity nester known for its graceful flight and complex social behaviors.

What it sounds like

A series of liquid, high-pitched chirps and gurgling whistles, often described as a cheerful 'tsip-ree-ree' or 'shreep'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. AUDEVARD Aurélien · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Tree Swallows are unique among North American swallows for their ability to digest waxy bayberries, allowing them to survive colder snaps and migrate earlier than other species.
They engage in 'feather play,' a behavior where birds drop a feather in mid-air and dive to catch it, possibly to practice aerial agility or social bonding.
During migration, they form massive communal roosts that can exceed hundreds of thousands of individuals, appearing as large clouds on weather radar.
They are secondary cavity nesters that rely heavily on abandoned woodpecker holes or man-made nest boxes, often competing with Eastern Bluebirds for sites.
While adult males and females look similar, one-year-old females possess a distinct dull brown plumage, which may reduce territorial aggression from older males.

Habitat

Open areas near water, including marshes, lakes, and wet meadows with available nesting cavities.

Range

Breeds across northern and central North America; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bahama SwallowTachycineta cyaneoviridis Chilean SwallowTachycineta leucopyga Golden SwallowTachycineta euchrysea Mangrove SwallowTachycineta albilinea Tumbes SwallowTachycineta stolzmanni Violet-green SwallowTachycineta thalassina White-rumped SwallowTachycineta leucorrhoa White-winged SwallowTachycineta albiventer

Heard a Tree Swallow?

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