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 Wood-Pigeon

Columba janthina

A large, dark forest pigeon endemic to East Asian islands, known for its elusive behavior and striking metallic iridescence.

What it sounds like

A deep, low-pitched, and rhythmic 'woo-woo' or 'moo-moo', often likened to the sound of a distant cow.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Ding Li Yong · JapanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest representative of the genus Columba in East Asia, reaching lengths up to 43 centimeters.
The plumage is primarily soot-black but features intense purple, green, and bronze iridescence on the neck and back.
Their diet is highly specialized toward the fruits and seeds of evergreen trees, particularly those of the Camellia genus.
The species is listed as Near Threatened due to its reliance on undisturbed old-growth island forests which are prone to fragmentation.
In Japan, it is designated as a National Natural Monument and serves as the official bird of the Ogasawara Islands.

Habitat

Dense, primary evergreen broad-leaved forests on temperate and subtropical islands.

Range

Offshore islands of Japan, South Korea, and small islets off the coast of Taiwan and eastern China.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Afep PigeonColumba unicincta Andaman Wood-PigeonColumba palumboides Ashy Wood-PigeonColumba pulchricollis Bolle's PigeonColumba bollii Bonin PigeonColumba versicolor Cameroon PigeonColumba sjostedti Common Wood-PigeonColumba palumbus Comoro PigeonColumba pollenii

Heard a Black Wood-Pigeon?

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