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 Verde Swift

Apus alexandri

A small, aerial insectivore endemic to the Cape Verde archipelago, the Cape Verde Swift is a petite relative of the Common Swift with a characteristically rapid wingbeat.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, thin, screaming 'sriii' that is higher and weaker than the call of the Common Swift.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Alain Verneau · Cape VerdeCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest swift species within the Western Palearctic region.
The species is largely sedentary, remaining within its island range year-round rather than migrating to the African mainland.
Nesting occurs in diverse cavities ranging from volcanic sea cliffs to the eaves of traditional stone buildings.
Taxonomically, it was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Common Swift (Apus apus) or the Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus).
It forages at various altitudes, often concentrating in high-velocity air currents near mountain ridges to catch aeroplankton.

Habitat

Cliffs, deep ravines, and open country, often near coastal or mountainous terrain.

Range

Cape Verde Islands

Similar & commonly confused birds

African SwiftApus barbatus Bates's SwiftApus batesi Blyth's SwiftApus leuconyx Bradfield's SwiftApus bradfieldi Common SwiftApus apus Cook's SwiftApus cooki Dark-rumped SwiftApus acuticauda Forbes-Watson's SwiftApus berliozi

Heard a Cape Verde Swift?

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