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

Biscutate Swift

Streptoprocne biscutata

A large, powerful swift of South America, the Biscutate Swift is characterized by its massive size and distinctive, discontinuous white collar patches.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, dry, rasping screeches and rhythmic, buzzing chattered notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Daniel Mello · BrazilCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The name 'biscutata' translates to 'two-shielded,' referring to the separate white patches on the nape and breast that do not meet at the sides.
It is one of the largest swifts in the world, reaching lengths of up to 22 centimeters and possessing a robust, cigar-shaped body.
They are obligate cave-nesters, often forming large colonies and building nests out of mud and moss on damp rock ledges.
Unlike the closely related White-collared Swift, it features a more square-ended tail without a deep fork.
The species is known for its high-velocity flight, frequently foraging at great altitudes for swarming insects.

Habitat

Montane forests, open scrublands, and temperate grasslands, primarily near rocky cliffs and cavernous landscapes.

Range

Disjunct populations across eastern and southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Chestnut-collared SwiftStreptoprocne rutila Tepui SwiftStreptoprocne phelpsi White-collared SwiftStreptoprocne zonaris White-naped SwiftStreptoprocne semicollaris White-naped SwiftStreptoprocne semicollaris

Heard a Biscutate Swift?

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