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

Siberian Stonechat

Saxicola maurus

A small, insectivorous passerine characterized by the male's striking black head, bold white collar, and pale orange-buff breast.

What it sounds like

A sharp, scolding 'tsack-tsack' resembling clicking stones, often paired with a thin, high-pitched 'hweet' whistle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Taxonomically split from the Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) based on distinct genetic and plumage differences.
The species is highly migratory, with northern populations traveling thousands of kilometers to winter in South Asia and Northeast Africa.
Males exhibit a conspicuously white rump and upper tail coverts, which distinguish them from their European counterparts.
They are known for their 'perch-and-pounce' hunting strategy, scanning for insects from the tops of shrubs or tall weeds.
The name 'Stonechat' is an onomatopoeic reference to their alarm call, which mimics the sound of two pebbles being struck together.

Habitat

Open landscapes including grasslands, steppes, scrubby forest edges, and damp meadows.

Range

Breeds across Russia, Central Asia, and the Himalayas; winters in Southern Asia and parts of East Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African StonechatSaxicola torquatus Amur StonechatSaxicola stejnegeri European StonechatSaxicola rubicola Fuerteventura StonechatSaxicola dacotiae Gray BushchatSaxicola ferreus Jerdon's BushchatSaxicola jerdoni Pied BushchatSaxicola caprata Reunion StonechatSaxicola tectes

Heard a Siberian Stonechat?

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