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

Black Redstart

Phoenicurus ochruros

A small, soot-colored passerine distinguished by its constantly quivering rufous tail and successful adaptation from alpine cliffs to industrial urban environments.

What it sounds like

A short, scratchy warble that starts with rapid whistles and is interrupted by a unique, dry, gravelly rattling sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:16

Rec. Astrid Cervantes · BelgiumCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is famous for colonizing 'bomb sites' in London and other European cities following World War II, utilizing ruins as artificial cliffs.
The species exhibits a characteristic rapid vertical shivering motion of the tail immediately upon alighting.
The male's song includes a highly unusual, metallic 'crackling' phase that sounds like pebbles being rattled or glass being crushed.
Many first-year males are 'paradryades,' meaning they retain female-like grey plumage to reduce aggression from dominant older males.
While primarily insectivorous, they are known to hover-glean insects from vertical surfaces and consume berries during cold winters.

Habitat

Rocky mountain slopes, scree, and increasingly industrial urban areas, power stations, and construction sites.

Range

Widespread across Europe, North Africa, and Asia, ranging from the British Isles to central China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ala Shan RedstartPhoenicurus alaschanicus Blue-capped RedstartPhoenicurus coeruleocephala Blue-fronted RedstartPhoenicurus frontalis Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus Daurian RedstartPhoenicurus auroreus Hodgson's RedstartPhoenicurus hodgsoni Luzon RedstartPhoenicurus bicolor Moussier's RedstartPhoenicurus moussieri

Heard a Black Redstart?

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