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.

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Birdsong field guide

Blyth's Swift

Apus leuconyx

Blyth's Swift is a slender, aerial insectivore distinguished by its deeply forked tail and prominent white rump. Formerly classified as a subspecies of the Pacific Swift, it is now recognized as a distinct species endemic to the Indian subcontinent.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched screaming trill, often described as a buzzing 'pree-pree-pree' delivered during high-speed aerial displays.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:18

Rec. David Farrow · BhutanCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was historically considered a subspecies of the Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus) before being elevated to species status based on its smaller size and plumage differences.
The species possesses pamprodactyl feet, meaning all four toes point forward, which allows it to cling to vertical rock faces but prevents it from perching or walking on level ground.
It spends the vast majority of its life in the air, capable of feeding, mating, and even sleeping while in sustained flight.
Its nest is a shallow cup made of feathers and straw cemented together with its own viscous saliva, usually tucked away in high cliff crevices.
Compared to its close relatives, Blyth's Swift has a notably narrower white band across the rump and a more deeply forked tail.

Habitat

Open rocky areas, deep valleys, and high-altitude ridges, typically near cliffs or human-made structures for nesting.

Range

The outer Himalayas and various hill ranges across India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African SwiftApus barbatus Bates's SwiftApus batesi Bradfield's SwiftApus bradfieldi Cape Verde SwiftApus alexandri Common SwiftApus apus Cook's SwiftApus cooki Dark-rumped SwiftApus acuticauda Forbes-Watson's SwiftApus berliozi

Heard a Blyth's Swift?

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