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

Akohekohe

Palmeria dolei

The Akohekohe is the largest extant honeycreeper on Maui, characterized by its dark plumage, white streaks, and a unique forward-curving crest. It is a highly specialized nectarivore that serves as a primary pollinator for native Hawaiian flora.

What it sounds like

A complex series of low-pitched whistles, raspy gurgles, and guttural 'churk' sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:41

Rec. Brooks Rownd · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest endemic honeycreeper remaining on the island of Maui.
The distinctive white crest feathers are often stained orange or red by the pollen of Ohi'a lehua blossoms.
Known for its high level of aggression, it actively defends nectar-rich trees from both conspecifics and other bird species.
Its population is now restricted to only about 5% of its historical range due to habitat loss and avian disease.
The Akohekohe is extremely susceptible to avian malaria, which has pushed its remaining population to high-elevation refugia above the mosquito line.

Habitat

High-elevation montane wet forests, primarily dominated by native Ohi'a lehua and Koa trees.

Range

Windward slopes of Haleakalā, Maui, Hawaii.

Heard a Akohekohe?

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