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

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

A small, drab insectivore known for its upright posture and habit of sallying from exposed perches to catch prey. This inconspicuous bird is a common sight in well-wooded gardens and forest edges across sub-Saharan Africa.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched, and sibilant 'tseee-tseee' or a sharp 'tzit' call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

It is a highly sedentary species, often remaining in the same small territory year-round.
Unlike many shy forest birds, it has adapted well to human environments and is frequently found in suburban parks.
The nest is a neat cup constructed from moss and lichen, often reinforced with spider webs for structural integrity.
It primarily feeds on flying insects but has been observed occasionally gleaning prey from foliage or consuming small berries.
While generally solitary or found in pairs, it may join mixed-species foraging flocks to increase hunting efficiency.

Habitat

Forest fringes, riparian woodlands, montane forests, and mature evergreen gardens.

Range

Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, from the highlands of Ethiopia and Nigeria down to the Western Cape of South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ashy-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa randi Asian Brown FlycatcherMuscicapa dauurica Brown-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa muttui Brown-streaked FlycatcherMuscicapa williamsoni Cassin's FlycatcherMuscicapa cassini Dark-sided FlycatcherMuscicapa sibirica Ferruginous FlycatcherMuscicapa ferruginea Gambaga FlycatcherMuscicapa gambagae

Heard a African Dusky Flycatcher?

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