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

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

A stocky, short-tailed songbird renowned for its specialized ability to forage headfirst down tree trunks.

What it sounds like

A repetitive, nasal 'yank-yank-yank' and a soft, low-pitched whistled song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:23

Rec. Ed Pandolfino · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest nuthatch species in North America.
The name 'nuthatch' refers to its habit of wedging large seeds into bark crevices and hacking them open with its bill.
They are known to smear crushed blister beetles around their nest entrance, using the insects' noxious secretions to deter predators.
Unlike woodpeckers, nuthatches descend trees head-first and do not use their tails for structural support while climbing.
During winter, they frequently join mixed-species foraging flocks alongside chickadees, titmice, and downy woodpeckers.

Habitat

Mature deciduous and mixed forests, woodlots, and suburban parks.

Range

Widespread across North America, from southern Canada to southern Mexico.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Algerian NuthatchSitta ledanti Bahama NuthatchSitta insularis Beautiful NuthatchSitta formosa Blue NuthatchSitta azurea Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla Burmese NuthatchSitta neglecta Chestnut-bellied NuthatchSitta cinnamoventris Chestnut-vented NuthatchSitta nagaensis

Heard a White-breasted Nuthatch?

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