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

Pale Martin

Riparia diluta

A small, pale hirundine closely related to the Sand Martin, distinguished by its muted grey-brown plumage and indistinct breast band.

What it sounds like

A dry, buzzy, and slightly metallic 'tshrit' or 'brrit', typically higher-pitched and thinner than the Sand Martin's call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Alexander Hellquist · Russian FederationCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was split from the Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) as a distinct species based on its paler plumage and different vocalizations.
The species is highly social and nests in large colonies, excavating deep horizontal burrows into vertical sandy or silty banks.
Unlike the Sand Martin, its brown breast band is poorly defined and often bleeds into the white of the throat and belly.
The Pale Martin is a migratory insectivore, often seen foraging in low, fluttering flight over large bodies of water.
Taxonomists recognize several subspecies, including the Tibetan Pale Martin (R. d. tibetana), which breeds at much higher elevations.

Habitat

Open areas near river valleys, lakes, and wetlands with suitable vertical banks for nesting.

Range

Breeds across Central Asia, through Kazakhstan and Mongolia to China; winters in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bank SwallowRiparia riparia Congo MartinRiparia congica Gray-throated MartinRiparia chinensis Madagascar MartinRiparia cowani Plain MartinRiparia paludicola

Heard a Pale Martin?

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