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 Snowcock

Tetraogallus himalayensis

The Himalayan Snowcock is a large, high-altitude pheasant adapted to the extreme alpine conditions of the world's highest mountain ranges. It is a robust, ground-dwelling bird known for its impressive ability to navigate steep, rocky terrain.

What it sounds like

A loud, piercing, three-noted whistle that rises in pitch, often described as 'curlew-like' or a series of 'soo-soo-soo' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is a high-altitude specialist, typically found at elevations between 3,000 and 6,000 meters.
When threatened, it prefers to run uphill rather than fly, relying on its powerful legs to outpace predators on steep slopes.
It was successfully introduced to the Ruby Mountains of Nevada in the 1960s, which remains its only wild population in North America.
They perform a daily 'commute,' walking up ridges at dawn and gliding long distances down to lower feeding grounds during the day.
Their digestive system is adapted to a fibrous diet of high-alpine tubers, shoots, and seeds exposed by receding snow.

Habitat

Alpine meadows, steep scree slopes, and rocky ridges well above the treeline.

Range

The Himalayan and Pamir mountain ranges, extending from eastern Afghanistan to western China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Altai SnowcockTetraogallus altaicus Caspian SnowcockTetraogallus caspius Caucasian SnowcockTetraogallus caucasicus Tibetan SnowcockTetraogallus tibetanus

Heard a Himalayan Snowcock?

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