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

Gray-sided Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus caerulatus

A medium-sized montane laughingthrush distinguished by its warm brown plumage, rufous crown, and contrasting gray flanks. It is a highly social and vocal species typically found in the dense understory of Himalayan and Southeast Asian forests.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, clear, and melodic whistles, often transcribed as 'wi-tu-u' or 'pi-wi-u', frequently delivered in synchronized duets.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Lars Lachmann · IndiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It features a striking white eye-ring that stands out against a black facial mask and lores.
Formerly classified in the genus Garrulax, it was moved to Pterorhinus following molecular phylogenetic revisions.
The species is known for its gregarious nature, often moving through forest layers in noisy groups of up to 15 individuals.
It is an omnivorous feeder, foraging for insects, berries, and seeds primarily within the leaf litter and low vegetation.
Different subspecies show variation in the intensity of the rufous crown and the extent of the gray wash on the flanks.

Habitat

Broadleaf evergreen forests, bamboo thickets, and dense secondary growth at elevations between 600 and 2,500 meters.

Range

The Himalayas (Nepal, Bhutan, northeast India) to Myanmar and southern China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-throated LaughingthrushPterorhinus chinensis Blue-crowned LaughingthrushPterorhinus courtoisi Buffy LaughingthrushPterorhinus berthemyi Chestnut-backed LaughingthrushPterorhinus nuchalis Chestnut-capped LaughingthrushPterorhinus mitratus Chestnut-hooded LaughingthrushPterorhinus treacheri Chinese BabaxPterorhinus lanceolatus Giant BabaxPterorhinus waddelli

Heard a Gray-sided Laughingthrush?

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Identify a bird by its song