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

Taiwan Bullfinch

Pyrrhula owstoni

The Taiwan Bullfinch is a stout, endemic songbird found in the high-altitude forests of Taiwan, characterized by its distinctive facial markings and soft, melancholy whistles.

What it sounds like

A soft, plaintive, two-noted piping whistle, often described as a clear 'hu-hu' or 'pi-oo'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Jerome Chie-Jen Ko · TaiwanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the Grey-headed Bullfinch but is now recognized as a distinct species endemic to Taiwan.
The species displays subtle sexual dimorphism, where males possess a faint pinkish-orange wash on the breast and cheeks that is absent in females.
It features a unique white semi-circular patch located just below the eye, contrasting sharply with its black face mask.
During winter months, these birds exhibit altitudinal migration, descending to lower elevations to escape harsh subalpine weather.
Their diet is specialized toward high-altitude flora, primarily consisting of seeds, buds, and small berries from coniferous and deciduous trees.

Habitat

High-elevation coniferous and mixed broadleaf forests, typically between 2,000 and 3,500 meters.

Range

Taiwan (endemic)

Similar & commonly confused birds

Azores BullfinchPyrrhula murina Brown BullfinchPyrrhula nipalensis Eurasian BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula Gray-headed BullfinchPyrrhula erythaca Orange BullfinchPyrrhula aurantiaca Red-headed BullfinchPyrrhula erythrocephala White-cheeked BullfinchPyrrhula leucogenis

Heard a Taiwan Bullfinch?

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Identify a bird by its song