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

Blanford's Snowfinch

Pyrgilauda blanfordi

A small, ground-dwelling sparrow-like bird of the high Tibetan Plateau, easily identified by its distinctive black facial mask and rufous-toned nape.

What it sounds like

Thin, high-pitched 'tsip' calls and a simple, repetitive song consisting of dry, wheezy or metallic notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Viral joshi · IndiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Named in honor of William Thomas Blanford, a prominent English naturalist and geologist.
Frequently utilizes the abandoned underground burrows of pikas and other small rodents for nesting and shelter.
It is a high-altitude specialist, commonly found at elevations ranging from 4,000 to over 5,500 meters.
Possesses a unique 'masked' appearance created by black lores, chin, and a vertical stripe through the eye.
During the winter, it forms large nomadic flocks to forage for seeds and frozen invertebrates on the windswept plains.

Habitat

Cold, arid alpine steppe, stony desert, and sandy plains with sparse vegetation.

Range

Tibetan Plateau across China, extending into northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Afghan SnowfinchPyrgilauda theresae Pere David's SnowfinchPyrgilauda davidiana Rufous-necked SnowfinchPyrgilauda ruficollis

Heard a Blanford's Snowfinch?

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