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 Rock-Thrush

Monticola solitarius

The Blue Rock-Thrush is a solitary, starling-sized member of the Muscicapidae family, recognized for the male's distinctive slate-blue plumage and its affinity for rocky terrain.

What it sounds like

A loud, clear, and flute-like song with a melancholy tone, often compared to a Common Blackbird but with shorter, more repetitive phrases.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:28

Rec. Lim Ying Hien 林勇贤 · MalaysiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the national bird of Malta, where it is known as the 'Merill'.
While western males are entirely dusky blue, the eastern subspecies M. s. philippensis features a striking chestnut-red belly.
Unlike most thrushes that forage on the ground, it often hunts like a flycatcher, diving from high perches to seize insects or small lizards.
It is highly territorial throughout the year and remains solitary outside of the brief breeding season.
During courtship, the male performs a distinct 'song flight,' spiraling or gliding with a fanned tail while singing.

Habitat

Rugged rocky areas including coastal cliffs, mountain gorges, quarries, and increasingly stone buildings or ruins.

Range

Southern Europe, North Africa, and across Central and Southern Asia to Japan and Malaysia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Amber Mountain Rock-ThrushMonticola erythronotus Blue-capped Rock-ThrushMonticola cinclorhyncha Cape Rock-ThrushMonticola rupestris Chestnut-bellied Rock-ThrushMonticola rufiventris Forest Rock-ThrushMonticola sharpei Little Rock-ThrushMonticola rufocinereus Littoral Rock-ThrushMonticola imerina Miombo Rock-ThrushMonticola angolensis

Heard a Blue Rock-Thrush?

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