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

Ferruginous Flycatcher

Muscicapa ferruginea

The Ferruginous Flycatcher is a small, distinctive passerine known for its vibrant rufous-orange rump and tail. It is a migratory insectivore that primarily inhabits the shaded understory of montane forests across Asia.

What it sounds like

A very thin, high-pitched, and metallic 'sip' or 'seep' call; the song is a weak, high-frequency series of trills.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

The species name 'ferruginea' is derived from Latin, meaning 'rust-colored', highlighting its ferruginous plumage.
It is a long-distance migrant, breeding at high altitudes in the Himalayas and Western China before traveling to Southeast Asia for the winter.
Unlike many other flycatchers that prefer open perches, this species is often found in the dark, damp interior of dense evergreen forests.
It features a prominent pale eye-ring and a large, dark eye, which are adaptations for foraging in low-light environments.
It exhibits classic 'sallying' behavior, darting from a low branch to capture insects in mid-air and frequently returning to the same perch.

Habitat

Subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and dense evergreen undergrowth.

Range

Breeds in the Himalayas, China, and Taiwan; winters in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, 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 Dark-sided FlycatcherMuscicapa sibirica Gambaga FlycatcherMuscicapa gambagae

Heard a Ferruginous 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