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-throated Martin

Riparia chinensis

A small, social swallow characterized by uniform brownish-grey upperparts and a diagnostic pale grey throat and upper breast. It is frequently seen foraging in large, low-flying flocks over open water bodies.

What it sounds like

A series of soft, rapid twittering chirps and a buzzy, rasping 'zreet' contact note.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:20

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

Field notes

It is a colonial nester that excavates horizontal tunnels up to one meter deep into vertical sandy or silty riverbanks.
Unlike the closely related Sand Martin, this species is primarily a resident or local migrant within its Asian range.
The species was formerly considered a subspecies of the Plain Martin (Riparia paludicola) found in Africa.
It is a specialized aerial insectivore, frequently skimming the water's surface to catch small flies, beetles, and midges.
Its tail is square or only slightly notched, lacking the deep fork seen in many other hirundine species.

Habitat

Large rivers, lakes, and coastal wetlands with accessible vertical banks for burrowing.

Range

South and Southeast Asia, ranging from Tajikistan and northern India to Indochina, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bank SwallowRiparia riparia Congo MartinRiparia congica Madagascar MartinRiparia cowani Pale MartinRiparia diluta Plain MartinRiparia paludicola

Heard a Gray-throated Martin?

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