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

Beautiful Nuthatch

Sitta formosa

The Beautiful Nuthatch is a large, strikingly patterned passerine of Southeast Asian mountain forests, distinguished by its intricate black, azure, and white plumage.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched sequence of 'sit-sit-sit' notes or a clear, descending trill.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:05

Rec. Sonam Dorji, Bhutan Bird · BhutanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest member of the Sitta genus, reaching a length of approximately 16.5 centimeters.
The species displays a unique mantle pattern featuring black and white streaks on a deep blue ground color.
It is currently classified as Vulnerable (VU) due to significant habitat loss across its fragmented range.
Unlike most nuthatches, it frequently forages in the upper canopy among moss-covered branches and epiphytes.
The Beautiful Nuthatch is a monotypic species, meaning no subspecies are currently recognized across its range.

Habitat

Primary subtropical and temperate evergreen broadleaf forests, typically with heavy epiphyte growth.

Range

Eastern Himalayas, including parts of India, Bhutan, Myanmar, southern China, and northern Indochina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Algerian NuthatchSitta ledanti Bahama NuthatchSitta insularis Blue NuthatchSitta azurea Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla Burmese NuthatchSitta neglecta Chestnut-bellied NuthatchSitta cinnamoventris Chestnut-vented NuthatchSitta nagaensis Corsican NuthatchSitta whiteheadi

Heard a Beautiful Nuthatch?

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