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

Abdim's Stork

Ciconia abdimii

The Abdim's Stork is the world's smallest stork species, characterized by its iridescent black plumage, white underparts, and blue facial skin. It is widely celebrated across Africa as a harbinger of rain and a consumer of agricultural pests.

What it sounds like

Generally silent outside of the breeding season; at the nest, they produce weak bill-clattering, peeping, or wheezing sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Sven Normant · OmanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest stork species globally, reaching a length of only about 75 centimeters.
Known as the 'grasshopper bird,' its diet consists primarily of large insects like locusts, making it highly beneficial to farmers.
The bare skin on its face is blue, but it features a distinctive red patch in front of the eyes that brightens during the breeding season.
They are intra-African migrants, tracking the Intertropical Convergence Zone to follow seasonal rainfall and high insect productivity.
In many African cultures, these storks are considered signs of good luck and are protected, often nesting on rooftops in villages.

Habitat

Open grasslands, savannas, pastures, and agricultural lands, often near water bodies or damp areas.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, migrating between breeding grounds in the north (Sahel) and wintering grounds in the south and east, including parts of Yemen.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Woolly-necked StorkCiconia microscelis Asian Woolly-necked StorkCiconia episcopus Black StorkCiconia nigra Maguari StorkCiconia maguari Oriental StorkCiconia boyciana Storm's StorkCiconia stormi White StorkCiconia ciconia

Heard a Abdim's Stork?

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