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 Shama

Copsychus cebuensis

The Black Shama is an endangered, medium-sized songbird endemic to the island of Cebu, distinguished by its uniform jet-black plumage.

What it sounds like

A rich, melodious sequence of fluting whistles and clear, varied musical phrases.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:13

Rec. Frank Lambert · PhilippinesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was feared extinct for decades due to extreme deforestation on Cebu until its rediscovery in the mid-20th century.
Unlike many other Copsychus species, it displays no sexual dimorphism; both males and females are entirely black.
The species is highly territorial, typically remaining within the dense understory of its limited forest fragments.
It is currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN due to its extremely small and severely fragmented population.
In addition to its own complex song, it is known to incorporate mimicry of other bird species into its vocalizations.

Habitat

Dense undergrowth of secondary forests, bamboo thickets, and limestone forest patches.

Range

Endemic to Cebu Island, Philippines.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman ShamaCopsychus albiventris Indian RobinCopsychus fulicatus Kangean ShamaCopsychus nigricauda Kangean ShamaCopsychus nigricauda Larwo ShamaCopsychus omissus Madagascar Magpie-RobinCopsychus albospecularis Maratua ShamaCopsychus barbouri Oriental Magpie-RobinCopsychus saularis

Heard a Black Shama?

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