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

Dark-sided Flycatcher

Muscicapa sibirica

A small, soot-colored passerine of the Old World flycatcher family, characterized by its long wings and habit of perching prominently on high snags.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsee' or 'zit' call; the song is a quiet, hurried medley of trills and squeaky whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is notable for its exceptionally long primary projection, with wingtips reaching nearly to the end of the tail.
During the breeding season, it favors high-altitude coniferous forests, often reaching the tree line.
The species displays a diagnostic white 'half-collar' on the neck sides and heavily streaked underparts.
It is a long-distance migrant, traveling from Siberian and Himalayan breeding grounds to Southeast Asian tropical forests.
Its hunting style involves 'sallying'—flying out from a perch to catch insects in mid-air before returning to the same spot.

Habitat

High-altitude coniferous and mixed forests, forest edges, and clearings with standing dead trees.

Range

Breeds from Central Siberia to Japan and the Himalayas; winters in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and the Philippines.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Dusky FlycatcherMuscicapa adusta Ashy-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa randi Asian Brown FlycatcherMuscicapa dauurica Brown-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa muttui Brown-streaked FlycatcherMuscicapa williamsoni Cassin's FlycatcherMuscicapa cassini Ferruginous FlycatcherMuscicapa ferruginea Gambaga FlycatcherMuscicapa gambagae

Heard a Dark-sided Flycatcher?

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