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 Fish-Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

A large, iconic African raptor characterized by its striking white head and breast, chestnut body, and haunting, evocative vocalizations.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, ringing 'weee-ah, hyo-hyo-hyo' that is often referred to as the 'Voice of Africa'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the national bird of four African nations: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and South Sudan.
The toes are equipped with specialized barbs called spiricules that allow the bird to grip slippery, live fish.
Females are significantly larger than males, weighing up to 3.6 kg compared to the male's 2.5 kg.
They are frequent kleptoparasites, aggressively stealing prey from other waterbirds like Goliath Herons.
When calling, the bird typically throws its head back, sometimes until the back of the head touches the shoulders.

Habitat

Large bodies of open water with nearby tall trees for perching, including lakes, rivers, and coastal estuaries.

Range

Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Gray-headed Fish-EagleIcthyophaga ichthyaetus Lesser Fish-EagleIcthyophaga humilis Madagascar Fish-EagleIcthyophaga vociferoides Sanford's Sea-EagleIcthyophaga sanfordi White-bellied Sea-EagleIcthyophaga leucogaster

Heard a African Fish-Eagle?

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