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

Bradfield's Swift

Apus bradfieldi

Bradfield's Swift is a medium-sized, brownish-grey aerial specialist endemic to the arid regions of southwestern Africa. It is characterized by its uniform plumage and exceptional flight capabilities, often seen soaring in small, fast-moving flocks.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched, rasping scream typical of the genus Apus, though generally described as drier and thinner than the Common Swift's call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Craig Robertson · NamibiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was named in honor of R.D. Bradfield, a South African naturalist who first brought the species to scientific attention.
Unlike many other Apus species, it is specifically adapted to desert and semi-desert environments where water sources are scarce.
The species exhibits a shallower tail fork and a paler, more uniformly brown coloration compared to the closely related Common Swift.
It is known to utilize diverse nesting sites including vertical rock crevices, palm fronds, and occasionally man-made buildings.
While largely sedentary, some populations are thought to be nomadic, moving long distances in response to localized rainfall and insect emergence.

Habitat

Arid and semi-arid savannas, rocky cliffs, gorges, and palm groves.

Range

Southwestern Africa, primarily Namibia, southern Angola, and western South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Bradfield's Swift?

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