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-shouldered Starling

Sturnia sinensis

A small, elegantly plumaged starling noted for the prominent white wing patches seen in males and its highly social behavior.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, scratchy whistles and complex chattering notes, occasionally incorporating mimicry.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:55

Rec. Geoff Carey · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males exhibit striking white wing coverts and a greyish-white head, whereas females are more uniformly olive-brown.
It is a secondary cavity nester, often utilizing old woodpecker holes or crevices in man-made structures for breeding.
The species is highly gregarious, frequently forming large communal roosts alongside other starling species like the Purple-backed Starling.
Its diet is opportunistic and omnivorous, consisting of a variety of insects, fruits, and nectar from flowering trees.
A migratory species, it travels from its breeding grounds in southern China and northern Vietnam to wintering sites across Southeast Asia.

Habitat

Open woodlands, agricultural areas, urban parks, and coastal scrub.

Range

Breeds in southern China and northern Vietnam; winters throughout Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Brahminy StarlingSturnia pagodarum Chestnut-tailed StarlingSturnia malabarica Malabar StarlingSturnia blythii White-headed StarlingSturnia erythropygia White-shouldered StarlingSturnia sinensis

Heard a White-shouldered Starling?

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