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

Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus treacheri

A social, montane songbird endemic to Borneo, characterized by its vibrant chestnut hood and energetic foraging parties.

What it sounds like

A loud, ringing, and musical series of whistles and chuckles, often delivered as a synchronized group chorus.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · MalaysiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is endemic to the mountains of Borneo, typically restricted to elevations between 600 and 2,800 meters.
The species features a distinctive patch of bare yellow skin behind the eye, providing a sharp contrast to its chestnut-colored head.
Highly gregarious in nature, these birds are frequently seen in loud, active groups of up to 10 or more individuals.
Taxonomic analysis recently reassigned this species from the genus Garrulax to Pterorhinus based on molecular phylogenetics.
It often acts as a nuclear species in mixed-species foraging flocks, leading other birds through the montane undergrowth.

Habitat

Montane rainforests, submontane forests, and high-altitude scrubland.

Range

Highlands of Borneo (Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-throated LaughingthrushPterorhinus chinensis Blue-crowned LaughingthrushPterorhinus courtoisi Buffy LaughingthrushPterorhinus berthemyi Chestnut-backed LaughingthrushPterorhinus nuchalis Chestnut-capped LaughingthrushPterorhinus mitratus Chinese BabaxPterorhinus lanceolatus Giant BabaxPterorhinus waddelli Gray-sided LaughingthrushPterorhinus caerulatus

Heard a Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush?

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