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 Oystercatcher

Haematopus moquini

The African Oystercatcher is a large, striking shorebird with jet-black plumage and a signature bright red bill. Endemic to southern Africa, it serves as a vital indicator species for the health of rocky and sandy coastal ecosystems.

What it sounds like

A piercing, high-pitched 'klee-weep' or a rapid, rhythmic piping during territorial disputes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Nature sounds by Simply Birding · NamibiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest oystercatcher species in Africa and is easily distinguished by its entirely black feathers and red eye rings.
The species was successfully downlisted from 'Near Threatened' to 'Least Concern' following a 2001 ban on off-road vehicles on South African beaches.
They are long-lived birds, with some individuals recorded reaching over 18 years of age in the wild.
Their specialized bill is laterally compressed to act as a lever for prying limpets off rocks or as a hammer for breaking mussel shells.
Unlike many shorebirds, the chicks remain dependent on their parents for several months to learn complex shell-opening techniques.

Habitat

Rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, and coastal lagoons.

Range

Coastal southern Africa, ranging from northern Namibia to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatus Black OystercatcherHaematopus bachmani Blackish OystercatcherHaematopus ater Canarian OystercatcherHaematopus meadewaldoi Chatham Islands OystercatcherHaematopus chathamensis Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus Magellanic OystercatcherHaematopus leucopodus Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostris

Heard a African Oystercatcher?

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