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

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

A small, sleek aerial insectivore known for its iridescent emerald-to-bronze upperparts and brilliant white underparts. It is a common sight in the western skies, often seen performing acrobatic maneuvers to catch insects.

What it sounds like

A series of rapid, high-pitched, twittering 'tsip' or 'cheet' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:14

Rec. Greg Irving · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Distinctive white patches on the sides of the rump often appear to wrap around the base of the tail in flight.
Unlike the similar Tree Swallow, the white feathers on its face extend behind and above the eye.
They are secondary cavity nesters, frequently utilizing abandoned woodpecker holes or specialized nest boxes.
They are capable of foraging at significantly higher altitudes than most other North American swallows.
During the breeding season, they are known to occasionally engage in 'cooperative breeding' where extra adults help feed the chicks.

Habitat

Open woodlands, montane forests, suburban parks, and canyons, typically near water sources.

Range

Western North America, ranging from Alaska and western Canada through the United States to central Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bahama SwallowTachycineta cyaneoviridis Chilean SwallowTachycineta leucopyga Golden SwallowTachycineta euchrysea Mangrove SwallowTachycineta albilinea Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor Tumbes SwallowTachycineta stolzmanni White-rumped SwallowTachycineta leucorrhoa White-winged SwallowTachycineta albiventer

Heard a Violet-green Swallow?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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