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-tailed Chat

Oenanthe scotocerca

The Brown-tailed Chat is a small, inconspicuous passerine of the wheatear family, primarily distinguished by its drab, earth-toned plumage and preference for rocky terrain in Northeast Africa.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched series of whistling notes, often rendered as a soft 'twee-twee-twee' or 'pree-pree'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

Field notes

Formerly classified in the genus Cercomela, it was moved to Oenanthe following molecular phylogenetic analysis.
Unlike most wheatears, it lacks white patches on its tail, which is instead a uniform dark brown.
It is highly terrestrial and is frequently seen bobbing its tail while perched on boulders or scanning for prey.
The species is primarily insectivorous, hunting small invertebrates through ground-gleaning and short aerial sallies.
Its nesting strategy involves hiding a grass-lined cup deep within rock crevices to protect offspring from predators and extreme heat.

Habitat

Arid rocky hillsides, wadis, and stony scrubland with sparse vegetation.

Range

Northeast Africa, spanning Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Brown-tailed Chat?

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