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

Blue-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus coeruleocephala

A small, high-altitude insectivore of the Himalayan region, distinguished by the male's vibrant cobalt-blue crown and contrasting black-and-white plumage.

What it sounds like

A sharp, thin 'tsip' or 'seee' note; song is a brief, high-pitched warble of hurried whistling phrases.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:35

Rec. Frank Lambert · KazakhstanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is sexually dimorphic, with males sporting a blue cap and black throat while females are predominantly greyish-brown.
Unlike most redstarts, it lacks the characteristic bright orange-red tail, possessing a dark tail instead.
It exhibits the classic 'shivering' tail motion common to its genus when perched or agitated.
The species is an altitudinal migrant, breeding at heights up to 5,000 meters and descending for winter.
It primarily feeds on small insects and spiders, often captured via sallying flights or ground gleaning.

Habitat

Open coniferous forests, subalpine shrublands, and rocky mountain slopes.

Range

Himalayas and Central Asia, including parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Blue-capped 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