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

Bush Blackcap

Sylvia nigricapillus

The Bush Blackcap is a secretive, medium-sized passerine endemic to southern Africa, easily identified by its diagnostic black cap and rich, melodic song.

What it sounds like

A loud, liquid, and fluty warble often compared to the song of a garden warbler; call is a sharp, dry 'tchk'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:04

Rec. Frank Lambert · South AfricaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a monotypic species, historically placed in its own genus Lioptilus before being grouped with the sylviid warblers.
The species is known for altitudinal migration, moving from high-altitude Afromontane forests to lower-elevation coastal scrub during winter.
Its diet is heavily frugivorous, particularly favoring the berries of the Tree Fuchsia (Halleria lucida) and various Rhus species.
Unlike many other warblers, it has a distinctively heavy, pinkish-orange or flesh-colored bill and matching legs.
It is a shy and skulking bird, often remaining hidden in dense canopy foliage where it is more frequently heard than seen.

Habitat

Moist evergreen Afromontane forests, forest edges, and dense valley thickets.

Range

Eastern South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian CatbirdSylvia galinieri African Hill BabblerSylvia abyssinica Dohrn's Thrush-BabblerSylvia dohrni Eurasian BlackcapSylvia atricapilla Garden WarblerSylvia borin Rwenzori Hill BabblerSylvia atriceps

Heard a Bush Blackcap?

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