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

Unicolored Jay

Aphelocoma unicolor

A large, uniformly deep-blue corvid endemic to the high-altitude cloud forests of Mexico and Central America.

What it sounds like

A series of harsh, nasal, and rasping 'sheer' or 'whrank' notes, often delivered in loud, rhythmic bursts.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Liliana Chavarria-Duriaux · NicaraguaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of the genus Aphelocoma that entirely lacks a contrasting breast band or collar.
The species practices cooperative breeding, where previous offspring assist the dominant pair in defending the nest and feeding chicks.
Its plumage is a rich, saturated cerulean that can appear almost black in the dim light of the forest understory.
Populations are often isolated on high-elevation 'sky islands,' leading to five recognized subspecies across its range.
Unlike many other jays, it is highly dependent on pristine, humid evergreen environments and is sensitive to deforestation.

Habitat

Montane humid evergreen forests and cloud forests, typically between 1,200 and 3,500 meters.

Range

Southern Mexico (Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas) through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.

Similar & commonly confused birds

California Scrub-JayAphelocoma californica Florida Scrub-JayAphelocoma coerulescens Island Scrub-JayAphelocoma insularis Mexican JayAphelocoma wollweberi Transvolcanic JayAphelocoma ultramarina Woodhouse's Scrub-JayAphelocoma woodhouseii

Heard a Unicolored Jay?

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