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

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

The Capped Wheatear is a distinctive, ground-dwelling insectivore of the African savanna, characterized by its bold black-and-white facial pattern and upright posture. It is frequently seen perched on termite mounds or scanning for prey from low vantage points in open environments.

What it sounds like

A loud, jumbled series of clear whistles and trills, often interspersed with accurate mimicry of other birds; alarm call is a sharp 'chak-chak'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. isaac kilusu · TanzaniaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a highly skilled mimic, capable of incorporating the calls of dozens of other bird species and even mammalian sounds into its complex song.
Unlike many Northern Hemisphere wheatears, this species is an intra-African migrant or resident, moving according to seasonal rainfall patterns.
It typically nests underground, utilizing abandoned rodent burrows or holes in termite mounds to protect its eggs from the sun and predators.
Both sexes possess nearly identical plumage, which is unusual for the Oenanthe genus where sexual dimorphism is often more pronounced.
The species is known for its characteristic 'wing-flicking' display, performed while perched to signal territory or agitation.

Habitat

Open, dry grasslands, semi-desert scrub, and recently burnt areas with short vegetation and bare soil.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Kenya and Tanzania southward to South Africa and west to Angola.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Capped Wheatear?

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Identify a bird by its song