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

Japanese Bush Warbler

Horornis diphone

A small, drab-colored passerine celebrated in East Asian culture as a herald of spring, renowned for its melodic song and elusive behavior in dense undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A loud, flute-like 'ho-hokekyo,' starting with a long introductory whistle followed by a rapid, melodic flourish.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · JapanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Historically, its droppings—known as 'uguisu no fun'—have been used in Japan as a skin treatment and to remove stains from silk kimonos.
It is a frequent host of the brood-parasitic Common Cuckoo, which lays its eggs in the warbler's nest to be raised by the unsuspecting parents.
The species was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in 1929 and has since become a widespread and successful invasive species across the archipelago.
Despite its powerful and complex song, the bird is visually understated with olive-brown plumage that provides excellent camouflage in thickets.
The Japanese Bush Warbler is often referred to as the 'Japanese Nightingale,' although it is taxonomically distinct from European nightingales.

Habitat

Dense bamboo thickets, forest understory, and scrubby lowlands.

Range

Native to Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and the Russian Far East; introduced to Hawaii.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Aberrant Bush WarblerHorornis flavolivaceus Brownish-flanked Bush WarblerHorornis fortipes Fiji Bush WarblerHorornis ruficapilla Hume's Bush WarblerHorornis brunnescens Manchurian Bush WarblerHorornis canturians OdediHorornis haddeni Palau Bush WarblerHorornis annae Philippine Bush WarblerHorornis seebohmi

Heard a Japanese Bush Warbler?

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