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

Bull-headed Shrike

Lanius bucephalus

The Bull-headed Shrike is a medium-sized predatory passerine of East Asia, renowned for its proportionately large head and raptor-like hunting behavior.

What it sounds like

A varied mix of harsh, mechanical 'chack-chack' alarm notes and a complex, melodic song full of borrowed imitations.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Feather V · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It practices 'skewering' behavior, impaling prey such as insects, lizards, and small birds on thorns or barbed wire to create a 'larder'.
The species displays sexual dimorphism, where males possess a bold black mask and rufous crown while females have scalloped breast feathers.
Its scientific name, bucephalus, is derived from Greek for 'ox-headed,' referring to its unusually robust and large skull.
It is a highly skilled vocal mimic, often incorporating the songs and calls of other bird species into its own territorial displays.
Bull-headed Shrikes are known for a distinctive habit of wagging or rotating their tails in a circular motion while perched.

Habitat

Open woodlands, cultivated farmland, orchards, and shrubby forest edges.

Range

East Asia, including Japan, Korea, eastern China, and southeastern Russia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bay-backed ShrikeLanius vittatus Brown ShrikeLanius cristatus Burmese ShrikeLanius collurioides Chinese Gray ShrikeLanius sphenocercus Emin's ShrikeLanius gubernator Giant ShrikeLanius giganteus Gray-backed FiscalLanius excubitoroides Gray-backed ShrikeLanius tephronotus

Heard a Bull-headed Shrike?

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