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

Eurasian Blackbird

Turdus merula

A medium-sized thrush exhibiting striking sexual dimorphism, known for its rich, melodic song and successful adaptation to human-altered landscapes.

What it sounds like

A rich, flute-like, and melodic song with varied phrases; alarm calls are sharp, repetitive 'chink-chink-chink' or a loud, rattling chatter.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:16

Rec. Amselforscher · GermanyCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Adult males possess glossy black plumage with a prominent orange-yellow bill and eye-ring, while females are dark brown with mottled chests.
The species is highly territorial during the breeding season, often defending garden boundaries with aggressive ground displays and song.
It was successfully introduced to Australia and New Zealand in the mid-19th century, where it is now a common sight in urban and rural areas.
Blackbirds exhibit 'anting' behavior, where they allow ants to crawl through their feathers to utilize formic acid as a pesticide against parasites.
Their diet is omnivorous, primarily consisting of earthworms and insects caught using a characteristic 'run-and-stop' foraging technique.

Habitat

Deciduous woodlands, urban gardens, parks, and hedgerows.

Range

Native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia; introduced to Australia and New Zealand.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian ThrushTurdus abyssinicus African Bare-eyed ThrushTurdus tephronotus African ThrushTurdus pelios American RobinTurdus migratorius Andean Slaty ThrushTurdus nigriceps Austral ThrushTurdus falcklandii Bismarck Island-ThrushTurdus heinrothi Black ThrushTurdus infuscatus

Heard a Eurasian Blackbird?

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