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

Blackthroat

Calliope obscura

A small, elusive chat-like bird endemic to China, distinguished by the male's striking black throat and its preference for high-altitude bamboo undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A rich, varied, and musical song composed of fluty whistles and warbles, occasionally featuring mimicry of other mountain birds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species was virtually unseen in the wild for over a century until breeding pairs were rediscovered in 2011 in the Qinling Mountains.
Displays extreme sexual dimorphism, where males have a jet-black bib and slate-grey upperparts while females are a cryptic olive-brown.
It is a highly secretive bird that rarely leaves the safety of dense bamboo thickets, making it one of the most difficult species to observe in its range.
Its wintering grounds remained a mystery for decades until individuals were identified in Thailand and Vietnam.
It is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to its small, fragmented population and specialized habitat requirements.

Habitat

Dense bamboo thickets and scrub within high-altitude coniferous or mixed forests, typically between 2,100 and 3,400 meters.

Range

Breeds in North-central China; winters in Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand and Vietnam.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chinese RubythroatCalliope tschebaiewi FirethroatCalliope pectardens Himalayan RubythroatCalliope pectoralis Himalayan RubythroatCalliope pectoralis Siberian RubythroatCalliope calliope

Heard a Blackthroat?

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