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 Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

A small, conspicuous member of the Old World flycatcher family, the African Stonechat is frequently seen perched on the topmost branches of shrubs in open landscapes.

What it sounds like

A sharp, metallic 'tsak-tsak' or 'whit-chat' contact call and a short, erratic, warbling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bram Piot · BurundiCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males exhibit a striking diagnostic appearance with a black head, broad white collar, and an orange-red breast patch.
The common name 'Stonechat' is an onomatopoeic reference to its call, which mimics the sound of two stones being struck together.
They are highly territorial and exhibit a characteristic behavior of flicking their wings and tail while perched upright.
The species is predominantly insectivorous, often utilizing a 'sit-and-wait' hunting strategy to pounce on ground-dwelling invertebrates.
Nests are typically cup-shaped structures built by the female, well-concealed in dense vegetation or at the base of shrubs.

Habitat

Open grasslands, montane heaths, scrublands, and the fringes of agricultural fields.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, with resident populations ranging from South Africa to Ethiopia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Amur StonechatSaxicola stejnegeri European StonechatSaxicola rubicola Fuerteventura StonechatSaxicola dacotiae Gray BushchatSaxicola ferreus Jerdon's BushchatSaxicola jerdoni Pied BushchatSaxicola caprata Reunion StonechatSaxicola tectes Siberian StonechatSaxicola maurus

Heard a African Stonechat?

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