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

Willow Warbler

Phylloscopus trochilus

A small, olive-green leaf warbler renowned for its delicate, descending song and one of the most impressive long-distance migrations of any songbird.

What it sounds like

A melodic, liquid song of descending notes that ends in a soft flourish; the contact call is a rising 'hwee-it'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Kelle Moreau · BelgiumCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Despite weighing only 10 grams, it migrates up to 12,000 km between Northern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
It is morphologically nearly identical to the Chiffchaff but can be distinguished by its pale legs and longer primary feathers.
Unlike many arboreal warblers, it builds a domed 'oven' nest on or very close to the ground hidden in dense herbage.
It undergoes two complete molts per year, once in the summer and once in the winter, to keep plumage optimal for migration.
Its population is one of the most numerous in the Palearctic, though it is experiencing significant declines in the southern parts of its range.

Habitat

Open deciduous woodlands, scrubland, and young plantations, frequently favoring birch and willow trees.

Range

Breeds across Northern and Temperate Europe and Asia; winters extensively in sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alström's WarblerPhylloscopus soror Arctic WarblerPhylloscopus borealis Ashy-throated WarblerPhylloscopus maculipennis Biak Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus misoriensis Bianchi's WarblerPhylloscopus valentini Black-capped Woodland-WarblerPhylloscopus herberti Blyth's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus reguloides Brooks's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus subviridis

Heard a Willow Warbler?

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