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

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus pectoralis

A large, social passerine characterized by a bold black breast band and a distinctive rufous collar. It is a highly gregarious species often found in noisy groups within the forest understory.

What it sounds like

A loud, synchronized medley of liquid whistles, bubbling notes, and laughing calls often delivered as a social chorus.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Geoff Carey · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Frequently forms interspecific foraging flocks with the Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, showcasing a remarkable case of phenotypic convergence.
Distinguishable from the similar Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush by its larger body size and diagnostic yellow iris.
Mainly terrestrial in its foraging habits, utilizing powerful legs and bill to uncover invertebrates and fallen fruit beneath dense leaf litter.
Commonly engages in cooperative breeding, where auxiliary group members help protect the nest and feed the fledglings.
Its taxonomic classification was recently updated from the genus Garrulax to Pterorhinus based on comprehensive phylogenetic analysis.

Habitat

Moist broadleaf evergreen and deciduous forests, bamboo thickets, and overgrown secondary scrub.

Range

Broadly distributed across the Himalayas, Southern China, and Mainland Southeast Asia.

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 Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush?

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