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-throated Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus chinensis

A medium-sized, vocal songbird characterized by its bold black throat, white cheek patches, and olive-grey plumage.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, fluty, and melodious whistles, often rendered as 'phew-phew-phew' or 'tu-it-wu'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was historically placed in the genus Garrulax before molecular phylogenetic evidence moved it to Pterorhinus.
The species is highly social and typically moves through the understory in noisy, coordinated family groups.
It is a versatile mimic, frequently incorporating the calls of other bird species and environmental sounds into its complex repertoire.
Five distinct subspecies are recognized, showing regional variation in plumage tones and the extent of the white ear-patch.
They are opportunistic foragers that use their strong bills to vigorously toss leaf litter in search of insects and fallen fruit.

Habitat

Dense evergreen and deciduous forests, bamboo thickets, and secondary scrub at low to mid-elevations.

Range

Southern China and mainland Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Blue-crowned LaughingthrushPterorhinus courtoisi Buffy LaughingthrushPterorhinus berthemyi Chestnut-backed LaughingthrushPterorhinus nuchalis Chestnut-capped LaughingthrushPterorhinus mitratus Chestnut-hooded LaughingthrushPterorhinus treacheri Chinese BabaxPterorhinus lanceolatus Giant BabaxPterorhinus waddelli Gray-sided LaughingthrushPterorhinus caerulatus

Heard a Black-throated Laughingthrush?

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