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

Cassin's Flycatcher

Muscicapa cassini

A specialized Old World flycatcher of the African tropics, almost exclusively tied to forested riverine environments.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsee-tsee' or 'tsit' call and a soft, simple warbling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Andrew Spencer · UgandaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Strictly riparian, this species is rarely encountered more than a few meters from a permanent water source.
It exhibits a characteristic behavioral trait of frequently pumping its tail downward while perched on overhanging branches.
Nests are often constructed in precarious locations, such as crevices in rocks or tree stumps situated directly in the middle of flowing rivers.
Unlike many forest flycatchers, it forages primarily by sallying out to capture insects directly over the water's surface.
The species is largely sedentary, remaining in the same riverine territory throughout the year.

Habitat

Riparian forests, wooded riverbanks, and swampy forest margins.

Range

West and Central Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone east to Uganda and south to northern Angola.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Dusky FlycatcherMuscicapa adusta Ashy-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa randi Asian Brown FlycatcherMuscicapa dauurica Brown-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa muttui Brown-streaked FlycatcherMuscicapa williamsoni Dark-sided FlycatcherMuscicapa sibirica Ferruginous FlycatcherMuscicapa ferruginea Gambaga FlycatcherMuscicapa gambagae

Heard a Cassin's Flycatcher?

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