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

Pere David's Snowfinch

Pyrgilauda davidiana

Pere David's Snowfinch is a small, pale ground-dwelling passerine specialized for survival in the high-altitude steppes and arid plains of East Asia. It is often found in close association with small mammal colonies, utilizing their burrows for shelter.

What it sounds like

A rapid, dry series of metallic 'tzit' notes and a soft, chirping song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:35

Rec. Stanislas Wroza · MongoliaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named in honor of Armand David, the French missionary and naturalist who also introduced the Giant Panda to the West.
The species frequently nests and takes refuge inside the burrows of pikas and other small rodents.
It possesses a distinctive black throat patch, or 'bib', which serves as a visual signal during social interactions.
Unlike many other snowfinch species, it prefers lower-elevation arid steppes and desert fringes rather than high alpine peaks.
During the winter, these birds form nomadic flocks that forage for seeds across wind-blown, snow-free patches of ground.

Habitat

High-altitude arid steppes, desert plains, and stony mountain foothills.

Range

Mongolia, northern China, and southeastern Russia (Transbaikalia).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Afghan SnowfinchPyrgilauda theresae Blanford's SnowfinchPyrgilauda blanfordi Rufous-necked SnowfinchPyrgilauda ruficollis

Heard a Pere David's Snowfinch?

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