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

Blackstart

Oenanthe melanura

The Blackstart is a small, desert-dwelling chat recognized for its unassuming grey-brown plumage and contrasting sooty-black tail that it frequently fans.

What it sounds like

A clear, melancholy whistling 'twee-tu-tu' along with a soft, dry 'chak' alarm note.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:29

Rec. Peter Boesman · OmanCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly classified in the genus Cercomela but was moved to Oenanthe following molecular phylogenetic analysis.
The bird performs a characteristic behavior of slowly spreading and closing its black tail feathers while perched.
Blackstarts are known to place small pebbles around the entrance of their nest, which is typically hidden in a rock crevice.
Unlike many of its wheatear relatives, this species is largely sedentary and remains in its arid breeding range year-round.
It is highly adapted to hyper-arid environments, obtaining most of its hydration from its diet of insects and occasional berries.

Habitat

Rocky deserts, deep wadis, and arid mountain slopes with sparse scrub vegetation.

Range

Widespread across the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Sahel region of Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian WheatearOenanthe lugubris Arabian WheatearOenanthe lugentoides Atlas WheatearOenanthe seebohmi Black WheatearOenanthe leucura Brown Rock ChatOenanthe fusca Brown-tailed ChatOenanthe scotocerca Buff-breasted WheatearOenanthe bottae Capped WheatearOenanthe pileata

Heard a Blackstart?

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