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

Bay-breasted Cuckoo

Coccyzus rufigularis

The Bay-breasted Cuckoo is a large, secretive bird endemic to Hispaniola, distinguished by its striking rufous throat and chest.

What it sounds like

A distinctive, rhythmic series of 'cowa-cowa-cowa' notes followed by a rapid, dry rattle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:16

Rec. Barry Edmonston · Dominican RepublicCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a non-parasitic cuckoo that builds its own stick nests and cares for its own chicks.
The species is highly specialized in preying on Anolis lizards, which it hunts within the forest canopy.
It is currently listed as Endangered due to extreme habitat loss and is now restricted to a few sites in the Dominican Republic.
Adults reach lengths of up to 50 centimeters, making it one of the largest members of the genus Coccyzus.
Its plumage features a lead-gray crown and a long, graduated tail with bold white spots on the underside.

Habitat

Subtropical dry forests and moist broadleaf transition zones.

Range

Endemic to the island of Hispaniola (primarily the Dominican Republic).

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus Chestnut-bellied CuckooCoccyzus pluvialis Cocos CuckooCoccyzus ferrugineus Dark-billed CuckooCoccyzus melacoryphus Gray-capped CuckooCoccyzus lansbergi Great Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus merlini Hispaniolan Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus longirostris Jamaican Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus vetula

Heard a Bay-breasted Cuckoo?

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