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-winged Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

A specialized boreal finch distinguished by its unique crossed mandibles and two prominent white wing bars. It is an irruptive species that follows the boom-and-bust cycles of conifer seed production.

What it sounds like

A rapid, dry series of rhythmic 'chett-chett-chett' notes and a musical song consisting of varied trills and canary-like warbles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:35

Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The crossed bill tips function like a lever to pry open spruce and larch cone scales, allowing the tongue to extract the seed.
Individuals can be either 'left-billed' or 'right-billed' depending on which way the lower mandible crosses, with no apparent disadvantage to either.
They are capable of breeding at any time of year, including mid-winter, as long as there is a sufficient supply of conifer seeds.
This species is highly nomadic, often traveling thousands of miles between years to find productive seed crops.
Unlike most finches, they possess a specialized 'crop' or esophageal pouch used to store seeds for later consumption or to feed nestlings.

Habitat

Boreal coniferous forests, primarily those dominated by spruce, tamarack, and larch trees.

Range

Northern North America from Alaska across Canada to the Northeastern US, and across Northern Eurasia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cassia CrossbillLoxia sinesciuris Hispaniolan CrossbillLoxia megaplaga Parrot CrossbillLoxia pytyopsittacus Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra Scottish CrossbillLoxia scotica

Heard a White-winged Crossbill?

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