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

Chinese Rubythroat

Calliope tschebaiewi

The Chinese Rubythroat is a striking high-altitude chat closely related to the Siberian Rubythroat, renowned for the male's brilliant scarlet throat patch. It is a secretive inhabitant of montane thickets across the Tibetan Plateau and western China.

What it sounds like

A rich, varied series of sweet whistles and trills, often delivered from a hidden perch within dense cover.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formally split from the Himalayan Rubythroat (Calliope pectoralis) based on distinct vocalizations and genetic divergence.
The male features a broad black breast band and a white 'mustache' streak that frame its namesake red throat.
It is primarily an altitudinal migrant, breeding at elevations up to 4,800 meters and descending to lower valleys during winter.
Sexual dimorphism is high, with females lacking the red throat and black markings, instead possessing a plain buffy-white throat for camouflage.
The genus name 'Calliope' is shared with the Greek Muse of epic poetry, a nod to the species' complex and melodic singing ability.

Habitat

High-elevation alpine scrub, rhododendron thickets, and dwarf juniper forests near the tree line.

Range

Mountains of central and southwestern China, the Tibetan Plateau, and the eastern Himalayas.

Similar & commonly confused birds

BlackthroatCalliope obscura FirethroatCalliope pectardens Himalayan RubythroatCalliope pectoralis Himalayan RubythroatCalliope pectoralis Siberian RubythroatCalliope calliope

Heard a Chinese Rubythroat?

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