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-crowned Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus courtoisi

The Blue-crowned Laughingthrush is a critically endangered passerine endemic to China, distinguished by its vibrant azure crown, black mask, and bright yellow throat.

What it sounds like

A complex series of musical, flute-like whistles and loud, rhythmic chattering often performed in chorus.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species was feared extinct for decades until its dramatic rediscovery in 2000 in Jiangxi Province.
It is one of the rarest birds on Earth, with a wild population estimated at fewer than 300 individuals.
Unlike many other laughingthrushes, this species is a colonial nester, often congregating in large camphor trees.
The species was taxonomically separated from the more common Yellow-throated Laughingthrush only as recently as 2006.
Breeding pairs are monogamous and show high site fidelity, returning to the same small patches of forest annually.

Habitat

Subtropical deciduous and mixed broadleaf forests, frequently near riverine areas and human settlements.

Range

Endemic to Wuyuan County in Jiangxi Province, China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-throated LaughingthrushPterorhinus chinensis 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 Blue-crowned 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