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

Bronze-tailed Starling

Lamprotornis chalcurus

A medium-sized African starling characterized by its iridescent green plumage and a distinctive coppery-bronze sheen on its central tail feathers. It is a gregarious species often seen in small, noisy groups within open woodland environments.

What it sounds like

A varied mixture of liquid warbles, harsh chattering notes, and occasional mimicry of other bird species.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Joost van Bruggen · GambiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Its central tail feathers exhibit a unique violet-bronze luster that differentiates it from the very similar Lesser Blue-eared Starling.
It is an obligate cavity nester, frequently occupying abandoned holes created by woodpeckers or barbets.
The species is highly social and often forms large, mixed-species foraging flocks with other glossy starlings.
Their diet is omnivorous, consisting primarily of insects gleaned from the ground and various fruits or berries.
While mostly sedentary, some populations may engage in localized nomadic movements depending on the availability of water and seasonal food sources.

Habitat

Open savannas, dry woodlands, and cultivated fields with scattered trees.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal and Gambia east to South Sudan and western Kenya.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Pied StarlingLamprotornis bicolor Ashy StarlingLamprotornis unicolor Burchell's StarlingLamprotornis australis Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens Chestnut-bellied StarlingLamprotornis pulcher Emerald StarlingLamprotornis iris Fischer's StarlingLamprotornis fischeri Golden-breasted StarlingLamprotornis regius

Heard a Bronze-tailed Starling?

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