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

Philby's Partridge

Alectoris philbyi

Philby's Partridge is a distinctive ground-dwelling gamebird endemic to the high-altitude rocky slopes of the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, easily identified by its unique black throat.

What it sounds like

A loud, rhythmic, and repetitive 'chuk-chuk-chuk-chukar' that increases in tempo, very similar to the Chukar Partridge.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. bert de bruin · Saudi ArabiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the only member of the Alectoris genus characterized by a solid black throat and cheeks instead of a white or buff patch.
The species was named after Harry St. John Bridger Philby, a British explorer and advisor to King Ibn Saud who first collected the bird in 1936.
Unlike many of its desert-dwelling relatives, it is strictly a montane species, typically found at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters.
When threatened, these birds exhibit a strong preference for sprinting uphill over rocky terrain rather than taking flight.
They are highly social birds that form coveys of up to 20 individuals during the non-breeding season to forage for seeds and insects.

Habitat

Steep, rocky mountain slopes with sparse vegetation and terraced agricultural fields near water sources.

Range

Southwestern Saudi Arabia and northern Yemen (Asir and Sarawat Mountains).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Arabian PartridgeAlectoris melanocephala Barbary PartridgeAlectoris barbara ChukarAlectoris chukar Przevalski's PartridgeAlectoris magna Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa Rock PartridgeAlectoris graeca

Heard a Philby's Partridge?

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