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

Luzon Redstart

Phoenicurus bicolor

A striking, stream-dwelling muscicapid endemic to the northern Philippines, characterized by its deep slate-blue body and contrasting rufous-orange tail.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, piercing 'tsee-tsee' or thin whistles designed to be heard over the roar of mountain torrents.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:33

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

Field notes

Unlike most redstarts, the Luzon Redstart exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism, with both males and females sharing nearly identical plumage.
It is a specialized 'torrent bird,' almost exclusively found on boulders and banks of fast-flowing mountain rivers.
The species is listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss, specifically the siltation and pollution of upland waterways from deforestation.
Formerly classified in the genus Rhyacornis along with the Plumbeous Water Redstart, it was recently moved to Phoenicurus based on genetic analysis.
It demonstrates a characteristic behavior of rhythmic tail-pumping and fanning while perched on rocks amidst rushing water.

Habitat

Clear, fast-flowing montane streams and rocky rivers, typically above 300 meters elevation.

Range

Endemic to the island of Luzon, Philippines, primarily within the Cordillera Central and Sierra Madre ranges.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ala Shan RedstartPhoenicurus alaschanicus Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros Blue-capped RedstartPhoenicurus coeruleocephala Blue-fronted RedstartPhoenicurus frontalis Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus Daurian RedstartPhoenicurus auroreus Hodgson's RedstartPhoenicurus hodgsoni Moussier's RedstartPhoenicurus moussieri

Heard a Luzon Redstart?

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Identify a bird by its song