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

Afep Pigeon

Columba unicincta

A large, reclusive forest pigeon characterized by its slate-grey plumage, scaly neck pattern, and preference for the high canopy of African rainforests.

What it sounds like

A series of deep, low-pitched, and hollow-sounding 'whoo' or 'coo' notes, typically delivered in a rhythmic sequence.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:19

Rec. Paul Lenrumé · GabonCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Features a diagnostic white terminal band on the tail that is conspicuous during flight.
The breast and neck feathers have pale grey margins, creating a distinctively scaled appearance.
Primarily a canopy specialist, it is seldom seen on the ground and often remains hidden in dense foliage.
Possesses a prominent red to reddish-brown orbital ring surrounding a dark eye.
Maintains an almost exclusively frugivorous diet, targeting various fruits and berries in the upper strata of the forest.

Habitat

Primary lowland tropical rainforest and moist montane forests.

Range

Central and West Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone to western Uganda and northern Angola.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman Wood-PigeonColumba palumboides Ashy Wood-PigeonColumba pulchricollis Black Wood-PigeonColumba janthina Bolle's PigeonColumba bollii Bonin PigeonColumba versicolor Cameroon PigeonColumba sjostedti Common Wood-PigeonColumba palumbus Comoro PigeonColumba pollenii

Heard a Afep Pigeon?

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