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

Altai Snowcock

Tetraogallus altaicus

A large, terrestrial pheasant-like bird adapted for life in the high-altitude rocky terrains of Central Asia. It is distinguished by its cryptic gray-brown plumage and powerful build suitable for subalpine climates.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, rising and falling whistles often described as 'su-i-lu' or a melodic, liquid bubbling.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Frank Lambert · MongoliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the northernmost species of snowcock, occurring in the Altai and Sayan mountain systems.
When threatened, it preferredly runs uphill to escape predators, taking flight only to glide long distances down slopes.
It remains at high elevations year-round, utilizing wind-swept ridges where snow cover is thin to find food in winter.
Their diet is almost entirely vegetarian, consisting of bulbs, tubers, seeds, and the leaves of alpine plants.
During the breeding season, males perform a distinctive display by fanning their tails and drooping their wings while walking.

Habitat

Rocky slopes, alpine meadows, and scree zones above the timberline, typically between 2,000 and 3,600 meters.

Range

The Altai and Sayan Mountains across Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and northern China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Caspian SnowcockTetraogallus caspius Caucasian SnowcockTetraogallus caucasicus Himalayan SnowcockTetraogallus himalayensis Tibetan SnowcockTetraogallus tibetanus

Heard a Altai Snowcock?

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