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

Pied Wheatear

Oenanthe pleschanka

A striking migratory passerine of the Old World flyway, known for the male's high-contrast black-and-white plumage and its preference for rugged, arid landscapes.

What it sounds like

A complex, scratchy song of warbling notes and mimicry; alarm call is a hard, rhythmic 'tshack-tshack'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Richard E. Webster · MongoliaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Breeding males possess a distinctive black throat and face that connects to black wings, contrasting with a white crown and nape.
The species is a long-distance migrant, wintering primarily in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula after breeding in Eurasia.
It frequently incorporates the songs of other birds into its own vocalizations, demonstrating high levels of interspecific mimicry.
Nests are typically hidden in rocky crevices, stone walls, or abandoned rodent burrows to protect against predators in open terrain.
Females are significantly more cryptic, sporting sandy-brown tones that provide camouflage against the parched soil of their habitat.

Habitat

Stony hillsides, rocky ravines, and open steppes with sparse vegetation.

Range

Breeds from Southeast Europe through Central Asia to Northwest China; winters in Northeast Africa and Southern Arabia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian WheatearOenanthe lugubris Arabian WheatearOenanthe lugentoides Atlas WheatearOenanthe seebohmi Black WheatearOenanthe leucura BlackstartOenanthe melanura Brown Rock ChatOenanthe fusca Brown-tailed ChatOenanthe scotocerca Buff-breasted WheatearOenanthe bottae

Heard a Pied Wheatear?

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