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

Rufous-necked Snowfinch

Pyrgilauda ruficollis

The Rufous-necked Snowfinch is a small, hardy passerine of the Tibetan Plateau, easily identified by its chestnut neck patches and striking white face with black stripes.

What it sounds like

A soft, rhythmic 'tit-tit-tit' or 'chip-chip' and a thin, high-pitched whistling 'pseee' often delivered in flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bo Shunqi 薄顺奇 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It has a symbiotic-like relationship with pikas, frequently using their burrows for nesting, roosting, and escaping predators.
The species is found at extreme altitudes, typically breeding between 3,800 and 5,200 meters above sea level.
During the harsh winter months, these birds form large, nomadic flocks that descend to slightly lower elevations in search of food.
Despite being called a snowfinch, it is taxonomically a member of the Old World sparrow family, Passeridae.
Their diet is opportunistic, consisting of seeds during the winter and small insects or larvae during the summer breeding season.

Habitat

Stony alpine meadows, high-altitude desert-steppes, and areas near human settlements or nomadic camps.

Range

Tibetan Plateau, including western China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim in northern India.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Afghan SnowfinchPyrgilauda theresae Blanford's SnowfinchPyrgilauda blanfordi Pere David's SnowfinchPyrgilauda davidiana

Heard a Rufous-necked Snowfinch?

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