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

Malabar Starling

Sturnia blythii

The Malabar Starling is a slender, pale-headed passerine endemic to the Western Ghats of India, distinguished from its relatives by its strikingly white head and mantle.

What it sounds like

A mix of musical whistles and sharp, metallic notes, often including a disyllabic 'tsee-it' or 'tzwee' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · IndiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnia malabarica), it is now recognized as a distinct species.
It exhibits altitudinal migration, moving to higher elevations during the breeding season and descending to the foothills in winter.
The species is secondary cavity nester, typically utilizing abandoned woodpecker or barbet holes in tall trees.
It is a highly social bird, frequently seen in small parties or larger communal roosts alongside other starlings and mynas.
Its diet is opportunistic and omnivorous, consisting of nectar from Erythrina and Bombax flowers, wild fruits, and various insects.

Habitat

Humid evergreen and moist deciduous forests, forest edges, and wooded gardens.

Range

Southwest India, specifically the Western Ghats range and associated hilly tracts.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Brahminy StarlingSturnia pagodarum Chestnut-tailed StarlingSturnia malabarica White-headed StarlingSturnia erythropygia White-shouldered StarlingSturnia sinensis White-shouldered StarlingSturnia sinensis

Heard a Malabar Starling?

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