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

Horsfield's Babbler

Malacocincla sepiaria

A small, secretive passerine of the Pellorneidae family known for its terrestrial habits and understated brown plumage.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, clear, and melodious whistled phrases, typically consisting of three to four notes like 'pu-wi-wi' or 'wee-ti-ti'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Nick Talbot · MalaysiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Named after Thomas Horsfield, an American naturalist who documented the species in Java.
Primarily a ground-dweller, it spends most of its time foraging through leaf litter for small invertebrates.
Distinguishable from the similar Abbott's Babbler by its shorter tail and more distinct greyish crown.
Often remains hidden in dense undergrowth, making it more frequently heard than seen.
Constructs a cup-shaped nest typically positioned very close to or directly on the forest floor.

Habitat

Moist lowland tropical forests, dense secondary growth, and bamboo thickets.

Range

Southeast Asia, including the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Borneo.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abbott's BabblerMalacocincla abbotti Black-browed BabblerMalacocincla perspicillata

Heard a Horsfield's Babbler?

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