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

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

The Yellow-throated Vireo is a stocky, brightly colored songbird of the upper canopy, recognized by its vibrant yellow throat and distinct yellow 'spectacles'.

What it sounds like

A series of slow, husky, and slurred two-note phrases with long pauses, often transcribed as 'three-eight... way-up... over-here'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:15

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

Field notes

It constructs a sophisticated, pensile cup nest made of bark strips and grasses, intricately bound with spider silk and decorated with lichens.
Among North American vireos, this species is unique for its bright yellow plumage extending from the throat to the breast, contrasting with a white belly.
Its foraging behavior is notably slower and more deliberate than warblers, as it methodically gleans large caterpillars and woody insects from foliage.
The species is a long-distance migrant, traveling from eastern North American forests to wintering grounds in Central and northern South America.
Unlike many passerines, both members of a pair may vocalize, though the male is the primary singer of the characteristic burry phrases.

Habitat

Mature deciduous and mixed forests, often favoring areas near water or forest edges with tall, leafy trees.

Range

Breeds across the eastern United States and southeastern Canada; winters from southern Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bell's VireoVireo bellii Black-capped VireoVireo atricapilla Black-whiskered VireoVireo altiloquus Blue Mountain VireoVireo osburni Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius Brown-capped VireoVireo leucophrys Cassin's VireoVireo cassinii Chivi VireoVireo chivi

Heard a Yellow-throated Vireo?

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