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

Cape Starling

Lamprotornis nitens

The Cape Starling is a stocky, medium-sized passerine renowned for its brilliant metallic blue-green iridescence and piercing yellow-orange eyes. It is a highly social and adaptable bird, frequently seen in both wild savannas and suburban environments across Southern Africa.

What it sounds like

A complex, liquid medley of warbling whistles and chattering notes, often punctuated by a distinctive, drawn-out 't-see-eer' sound.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Filippo Ceccolini · NamibiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The bird's vibrant coloration is structural rather than pigment-based, caused by microscopic feather structures that refract light into a metallic sheen.
It is a frequent host to the Great Spotted Cuckoo, a brood parasite that relies on the starling to raise its young.
Highly opportunistic foragers, they are often seen following large mammals or lawnmowers to snatch insects disturbed from the grass.
While primarily insectivorous, they are known to consume fruit and occasionally drink nectar from tubular flowers like Aloes.
Unlike many other starling species, juveniles are notably duller with brownish-grey underparts and lack the vivid orange eye color of adults.

Habitat

Open woodlands, savannas, riverine bush, and human-modified landscapes such as parks and gardens.

Range

Southern Africa, spanning from South Africa and Namibia northwards into Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Cape 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