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-winged Oriole

Oriolus nigripennis

The Black-winged Oriole is a striking canopy-dwelling passerine characterized by its brilliant yellow plumage and contrasting jet-black wings and head. It is a specialist of the African tropical forest interior, often remaining high in the foliage.

What it sounds like

A series of rich, liquid, and flute-like whistles, typically transcribed as 'hooo-whee-oh', sometimes accompanied by raspy alarm notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marc Languy · GuineaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike the similar African Black-headed Oriole, this species possesses entirely black wings without any yellow feather Edging.
It is primarily an arboreal insectivore, focusing its foraging efforts on caterpillars and large beetles found in the upper canopy.
The species exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism, with both males and females displaying the same bold black-and-yellow coloration.
It constructs a deep, pendulous cup nest woven from bark strips and lichens, typically suspended between the forks of a high branch.
They are known to participate in mixed-species foraging flocks, often acting as a sentinel for other forest birds.

Habitat

Moist lowland evergreen forests, swamp forests, and mature secondary growth.

Range

Central and West Africa, extending from Sierra Leone across the Congo Basin to South Sudan and northern Angola.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Black-headed OrioleOriolus larvatus African Golden OrioleOriolus auratus Black OrioleOriolus hosii Black-and-crimson OrioleOriolus consanguineus Black-hooded OrioleOriolus xanthornus Black-naped OrioleOriolus chinensis Black-tailed OrioleOriolus percivali Brown OrioleOriolus szalayi

Heard a Black-winged Oriole?

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