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

Brown-breasted Bulbul

Pycnonotus xanthorrhous

The Brown-breasted Bulbul is a medium-sized songbird recognized by its distinctive brown breast band and vibrant yellow undertail coverts. It is a social and vocal inhabitant of hilly scrublands across southern China and mainland Southeast Asia.

What it sounds like

A series of bright, liquid, and cheerful whistles often described as a rhythmic 'joy-to-see-you' or 'ti-wit-ti-wit'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Albert Lastukhin · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species name 'xanthorrhous' is derived from Greek, meaning 'yellow-rumped' or 'yellow-vented.'
Unlike many other bulbuls in its genus, this species lacks a prominent crest, featuring a flatter, dark crown.
It is primarily frugivorous but supplements its diet with nectar and small insects caught in foliage.
The bird is known for its 'white-tipped' tail feathers, which are most visible when it takes flight or fans its tail.
It is highly adaptable to human-altered landscapes, frequently colonizing abandoned tea plantations and orchards.

Habitat

Subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, secondary forests, and garden edges, typically at elevations between 1,000 and 2,300 meters.

Range

Southern China, northern Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos, and northern Vietnam.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aceh BulbulPycnonotus snouckaerti Ashy-fronted BulbulPycnonotus cinereifrons Ayeyarwady BulbulPycnonotus blanfordi Black-fronted BulbulPycnonotus nigricans Cape BulbulPycnonotus capensis Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus Cream-eyed BulbulPycnonotus pseudosimplex Cream-vented BulbulPycnonotus simplex

Heard a Brown-breasted Bulbul?

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