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

Brown-backed Needletail

Hirundapus giganteus

One of the largest and most powerful swifts, the Brown-backed Needletail is a high-speed aerialist known for its robust, barrel-shaped body and exceptional flight capabilities.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched chattering or 'chew-chew-chew' sound, often emitted during social flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:17

Rec. Andrew Spencer · IndiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is among the largest species in the swift family, reaching lengths of up to 25 centimeters.
The species gets its name from the stiff, needle-like feather shafts that protrude beyond the tail's edge.
It possesses a distinctive white patch on the lores and a horseshoe-shaped white patch on the undertail coverts.
Highly aerial in nature, these birds are known to drink and bathe on the wing by skimming the surface of forest pools.
They use audible clicking sounds for a primitive form of echolocation to navigate dark roosting sites in hollow trees.

Habitat

Primary evergreen forests, moist lowland forests, and montane ridges, often near water bodies.

Range

South and Southeast Asia, including parts of India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Purple NeedletailHirundapus celebensis Silver-backed NeedletailHirundapus cochinchinensis White-throated NeedletailHirundapus caudacutus

Heard a Brown-backed Needletail?

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