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

Abyssinian Ground-Thrush

Geokichla piaggiae

A shy and striking montane forest bird, the Abyssinian Ground-Thrush is noted for its vibrant orange plumage and terrestrial lifestyle. It is a secretive species that spends most of its time foraging in the dense shade of high-altitude undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A series of rich, fluty whistling notes delivered in short, melodic phrases, often accompanied by thin 'tseep' alarm calls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · KenyaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is named after the 19th-century Italian explorer Carlo Piaggia, who first documented the species.
The bird possesses a distinctive bold white eye-ring that provides a sharp contrast against its deep orange face.
It is highly terrestrial, primarily feeding on insects, mollusks, and earthworms by flicking through damp leaf litter.
The species is subdivided into six distinct subspecies that inhabit isolated 'Afromontane islands' across East Africa.
When threatened, it often remains perfectly still in the shadows rather than flying, relying on its cryptic dorsal coloration for protection.

Habitat

Moist montane evergreen forests, bamboo zones, and densely vegetated ravines between 1,500 and 3,500 meters.

Range

Eastern Africa, spanning from the Ethiopian Highlands through the Albertine Rift to northern Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ashy ThrushGeokichla cinerea Black-eared Ground-ThrushGeokichla camaronensis Buru ThrushGeokichla dumasi Chestnut-backed ThrushGeokichla dohertyi Chestnut-capped ThrushGeokichla interpres Crossley's Ground-ThrushGeokichla crossleyi Enggano ThrushGeokichla leucolaema Gray Ground-ThrushGeokichla princei

Heard a Abyssinian Ground-Thrush?

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