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

Black-nest Swiftlet

Aerodramus maximus

The Black-nest Swiftlet is a large, cave-dwelling aerial insectivore famous for its edible nests constructed from saliva and dark feathers. It is one of the primary species harvested for the bird's nest soup industry across Southeast Asia.

What it sounds like

Rapid, metallic clicking sounds used for echolocation and a variety of high-pitched social chirps and buzzes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:31

Rec. Arnold Meijer · MalaysiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is among the largest species in the genus Aerodramus, measuring roughly 12 to 14 centimeters in length.
The species utilizes low-frequency echolocation clicks to navigate through the pitch-black interiors of limestone caves.
Unlike 'white-nest' swiftlets, its nest contains a high proportion of dark feathers, requiring labor-intensive cleaning for commercial use.
It is a highly gregarious nester, often forming massive colonies that can number in the hundreds of thousands of individuals.
They are capable of foraging over vast distances, often hunting insects above the forest canopy or over open water.

Habitat

Deep limestone caves for nesting and roosting; forages over primary rainforests, coastal areas, and cultivated land.

Range

Widespread across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ameline SwiftletAerodramus amelis Atiu SwiftletAerodramus sawtelli Australian SwiftletAerodramus terraereginae Bare-legged SwiftletAerodramus nuditarsus Caroline Islands SwiftletAerodramus inquietus Himalayan SwiftletAerodramus brevirostris Indian SwiftletAerodramus unicolor Mariana SwiftletAerodramus bartschi

Heard a Black-nest Swiftlet?

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