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 Rock-Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

A striking high-altitude passerine known for the male's tricolored plumage and its distinctive short, rufous tail.

What it sounds like

A melodic, flute-like song with rich, melancholy whistles and occasional mimicry.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · MongoliaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The male features a unique white patch on its back that becomes highly visible during the breeding season.
It is the only member of the genus Monticola that performs long-distance migrations across the Sahara.
Taxonomically, it has been reclassified from the thrush family (Turdidae) to the Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae).
It performs a characteristic 'parachuting' display flight while singing to attract mates.
Its diet is primarily insectivorous but shifts to include berries and small reptiles during the autumn months.

Habitat

Open, rocky mountainous terrain, scree slopes, and high-altitude alpine meadows.

Range

Breeds from Southern Europe to Central Asia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Amber Mountain Rock-ThrushMonticola erythronotus Blue Rock-ThrushMonticola solitarius Blue-capped Rock-ThrushMonticola cinclorhyncha Cape Rock-ThrushMonticola rupestris Chestnut-bellied Rock-ThrushMonticola rufiventris Forest Rock-ThrushMonticola sharpei Little Rock-ThrushMonticola rufocinereus Littoral Rock-ThrushMonticola imerina

Heard a Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush?

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