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-tailed Robin

Larvivora sibilans

A secretive, ground-dwelling passerine of the East Palearctic characterized by its vibrant rufous tail and distinctly scaly breast plumage.

What it sounds like

A rapid, descending metallic trill or shivering whistle, often compared to the sound of a spinning coin settling on a hard surface.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Peter Boesman · ChinaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Despite being called a 'robin,' it is taxonomically classified as an Old World flycatcher within the family Muscicapidae.
Its specific epithet 'sibilans' is Latin for 'hissing,' a reference to the thin, high-pitched quality of its vocalizations.
The breast feathers feature dark crescent-shaped fringes, creating a scaly appearance that distinguishes it from the Siberian Blue Robin.
It exhibits a characteristic behavioral trait of frequently quivering or flicking its reddish-brown tail while foraging in leaf litter.
It is a highly elusive species that prefers to stay within dense cover, making it significantly easier to hear than to see.

Habitat

Dense coniferous and deciduous forest undergrowth, particularly near water or in damp taiga; winters in tropical evergreen forests and bamboo thickets.

Range

Breeds across Southern Siberia and Northeast Asia; migrates to wintering grounds in Southern China and Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Indian Blue RobinLarvivora brunnea Izu RobinLarvivora tanensis Japanese RobinLarvivora akahige Okinawa RobinLarvivora namiyei Rufous-headed RobinLarvivora ruficeps Rufous-headed RobinLarvivora ruficeps Ryukyu RobinLarvivora komadori Siberian Blue RobinLarvivora cyane

Heard a Rufous-tailed Robin?

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