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

Firethroat

Calliope pectardens

A small, elusive chat species characterized by the male's vibrant orange-red throat patch and black-and-white neck markings. It is a high-altitude specialist that remains largely hidden within dense undergrowth during the breeding season.

What it sounds like

A complex, melodic song composed of rich, fluty whistles and trills, often delivered from deep within cover.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jelle Scharringa · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The male's brilliant orange-red throat is framed by a black border and a distinct white stripe on the sides of the neck.
It is a sexually dimorphic species; females are significantly drabber, featuring olive-brown plumage and lacking the bright throat patch.
The Firethroat was traditionally classified in the genus Luscinia but was moved to Calliope based on molecular phylogenetic studies.
It is currently listed as Vulnerable due to its small, fragmented population and the loss of high-altitude bamboo habitat.
During the breeding season, it is found at elevations between 2,800 and 3,700 meters, typically near the timberline.

Habitat

Dense bamboo thickets, alpine scrub, and thick undergrowth at the edges of coniferous forests.

Range

Breeds in south-central China (Sichuan, Yunnan, and Shaanxi); winters in northern Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Similar & commonly confused birds

BlackthroatCalliope obscura Chinese RubythroatCalliope tschebaiewi Himalayan RubythroatCalliope pectoralis Himalayan RubythroatCalliope pectoralis Siberian RubythroatCalliope calliope

Heard a Firethroat?

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