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

Vesper Sparrow

Pooecetes gramineus

The Vesper Sparrow is a medium-sized New World sparrow characterized by its streaked brown plumage and flashing white outer tail feathers. It is a ground-dwelling specialist of open habitats, often heard singing during the evening twilight.

What it sounds like

A musical sequence typically opening with two low, slurred whistles followed by two higher notes, concluding in a rapid, descending trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:40

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

Field notes

It is the sole member of its genus, Pooecetes, making it taxonomically distinct from other North American sparrows.
The bird was named 'Vesper' by naturalist John Burroughs, who noted its habit of singing during the 'vesper hour' or sunset.
Adults possess a small patch of chestnut-colored feathers on the shoulder (lesser coverts) that is often hidden while at rest.
In flight, its most diagnostic feature is the pair of white outer tail feathers, which serve as a high-contrast signal to conspecifics.
Vesper Sparrows frequently engage in dust-bathing to maintain plumage health, requiring patches of bare earth within their territory.

Habitat

Dry, open landscapes including grasslands, pastures, hayfields, and sagebrush steppes with scattered shrubs or fence posts.

Range

Breeds across Canada and the northern two-thirds of the United States; winters in the southern U.S. and Mexico.

Heard a Vesper Sparrow?

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