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 Thrush

Turdus abyssinicus

A medium-sized montane songbird of East Africa, recognized by its dark olive-brown upperparts and bright orange-yellow bill and eye-ring.

What it sounds like

A rich, melodious song of varied fluty whistles, often accompanied by sharp, clicking 'tsek-tsek' alarm calls.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. isaac kilusu · TanzaniaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Olive Thrush (Turdus olivaceus) before being recognized as a distinct species based on genetic and vocal differences.
Displays significant plumage variation across its range, with southern populations often showing much richer rufous bellies than northern ones.
It is a highly adaptable forager, frequently seen hopping on the ground to uncover invertebrates and fallen fruit from leaf litter.
Nests are typically robust, cup-shaped structures built from moss, twigs, and mud, usually concealed in the fork of a tree or bush.
The species has successfully adapted to human-altered landscapes, becoming a common sight in suburban gardens in high-altitude cities like Nairobi.

Habitat

High-altitude evergreen forests, montane woodlands, thickets, and well-wooded gardens.

Range

East Africa, ranging from the Ethiopian Highlands through the Albertine Rift to northern Malawi.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Bare-eyed ThrushTurdus tephronotus African ThrushTurdus pelios American RobinTurdus migratorius Andean Slaty ThrushTurdus nigriceps Austral ThrushTurdus falcklandii Bismarck Island-ThrushTurdus heinrothi Black ThrushTurdus infuscatus Black-billed ThrushTurdus ignobilis

Heard a Abyssinian 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