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

Maroon-backed Accentor

Prunella immaculata

A shy, ground-dwelling songbird of high-altitude forests recognized by its slate-grey plumage and rich maroon back. It is the most forest-dependent species among the accentors, often skulking in damp undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A thin, metallic 'tzi-it' call and a short, hurried warbling song with high-pitched trills.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It possesses a striking pale yellow iris that stands out against its dark grey facial feathers.
Unlike its alpine relatives, it prefers the interior of dense coniferous and rhododendron forests over open rocky slopes.
It undergoes altitudinal migration, moving from high-elevation breeding grounds down to wooded valleys in winter.
The species' diet shifts seasonally from small insects and invertebrates to seeds and small berries.
It is often observed foraging near water sources, particularly in mossy areas near mountain streams.

Habitat

Damp coniferous forests, rhododendron thickets, and mossy woodland floors.

Range

Eastern Himalayas, Southeast Tibet, and Central to Southwest China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Alpine AccentorPrunella collaris Altai AccentorPrunella himalayana Black-throated AccentorPrunella atrogularis Brown AccentorPrunella fulvescens DunnockPrunella modularis Japanese AccentorPrunella rubida Mongolian AccentorPrunella koslowi Radde's AccentorPrunella ocularis

Heard a Maroon-backed Accentor?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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