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 Pied Starling

Lamprotornis bicolor

A gregarious, sooty-brown starling easily distinguished by its contrasting white lower belly and striking pale yellow iris.

What it sounds like

A mixture of melodic, descending liquid whistles and harsh, chattering alarm notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Frank Lambert · South AfricaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a cooperative breeder, with non-breeding helpers frequently assisting a dominant pair in raising their brood.
Unlike most members of the Lamprotornis genus, its plumage is a matte, sooty-brown rather than highly iridescent.
They nest in self-excavated tunnels in vertical earth or river banks, which can reach up to a meter in length.
The species is highly social and often seen following livestock to feed on disturbed insects or ectoparasites.
Adults exhibit a prominent yellow gape and a bright yellow base to the lower mandible.

Habitat

Open grasslands, pastures, and agricultural land, typically near water or suitable nesting banks.

Range

Endemic to Southern Africa, primarily occurring in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ashy StarlingLamprotornis unicolor Bronze-tailed StarlingLamprotornis chalcurus Burchell's StarlingLamprotornis australis Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens Chestnut-bellied StarlingLamprotornis pulcher Emerald StarlingLamprotornis iris Fischer's StarlingLamprotornis fischeri Golden-breasted StarlingLamprotornis regius

Heard a African Pied Starling?

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