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

Afghan Snowfinch

Pyrgilauda theresae

The Afghan Snowfinch is a robust, ground-dwelling passerine and the only bird species strictly endemic to the high-altitude regions of Afghanistan.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'tsi' or 'zsit' note, and a dry, repetitive trilling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only avian species entirely endemic to Afghanistan, found nowhere else in the world.
The species was first described in 1937 by Richard Meinertzhagen and named after his niece, Theresa Clay.
They frequently utilize the burrows of pikas and other small rodents for nesting and protection from extreme weather.
Outside the breeding season, these birds form large, nomadic flocks that can number in the hundreds.
Despite their name, they are members of the Old World sparrow family (Passeridae) rather than true finches.

Habitat

Stony mountain passes, high-altitude plateaus, and rocky slopes ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 meters.

Range

The Hindu Kush mountains of central and northern Afghanistan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blanford's SnowfinchPyrgilauda blanfordi Pere David's SnowfinchPyrgilauda davidiana Rufous-necked SnowfinchPyrgilauda ruficollis

Heard a Afghan Snowfinch?

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