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

White-crested Laughingthrush

Garrulax leucolophus

A highly social and boisterous songbird easily identified by its prominent white crest and striking black eye mask.

What it sounds like

Loud, rhythmic cackling and liquid 'hu-hu-hu' notes that often erupt into a chaotic, multi-bird chorus.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:37

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

Field notes

They are renowned for their communal 'laughter,' which consists of synchronized, explosive vocalizations used to maintain group cohesion.
Groups typically consist of 6 to 12 individuals that move through the forest undergrowth in a follow-the-leader fashion.
While primarily insectivorous, they are opportunistic feeders that also consume fruit, seeds, and occasionally small reptiles.
This species practices cooperative breeding, where younger family members help the dominant pair protect the nest and feed fledglings.
Despite their loud nature, they are surprisingly stealthy when threatened, diving into dense bamboo or thickets to disappear.

Habitat

Broadleaf evergreen forests, bamboo thickets, and dense secondary scrub.

Range

The Himalayan foothills across Southeast Asia, extending from India to Indochina and southern China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-hooded LaughingthrushGarrulax milleti Cambodian LaughingthrushGarrulax ferrarius Chinese HwameiGarrulax canorus Gray LaughingthrushGarrulax maesi Lesser Necklaced LaughingthrushGarrulax monileger Orange-breasted LaughingthrushGarrulax annamensis Rufous-cheeked LaughingthrushGarrulax castanotis Rufous-fronted LaughingthrushGarrulax rufifrons

Heard a White-crested Laughingthrush?

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