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

Himalayan Rubythroat

Calliope pectoralis

A high-altitude member of the Old World flycatcher family, the Himalayan Rubythroat is a ground-dwelling songbird best known for the male's brilliant scarlet throat patch.

What it sounds like

A complex, melodic song of whistled notes and trills; common calls include a sharp 'tcheck' or a soft, rising 'wheet'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:13

Rec. Frank Lambert · KazakhstanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males display a vibrant ruby-red throat framed by a black breast band and white 'mustache' streaks, while females are duller with a white throat.
The species is an altitudinal migrant, breeding at heights up to 4,500 meters and descending to lower foothills for the winter.
It was historically classified in the genus Luscinia before molecular studies moved it to the genus Calliope.
They are primarily insectivorous, foraging on the ground and through dense scrub for beetles, ants, and larvae.
Unlike many mountain birds, they are known to be quite shy and often remain hidden within thick rhododendron or juniper cover.

Habitat

Alpine meadows, subalpine scrub, and rocky hillsides with dense dwarf vegetation.

Range

The Himalayas and surrounding mountain ranges of Central Asia, including parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Himalayan Rubythroat?

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Identify a bird by its song