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

Chapin's Flycatcher

Fraseria lendu

The Chapin's Flycatcher is a small, elusive passerine bird endemic to the high-altitude forests of the Albertine Rift. It is known for its inconspicuous grey-brown plumage and canopy-dwelling lifestyle.

What it sounds like

A quiet, high-pitched series of thin 'tseee' whistles and soft, melodic warbling.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was named in honor of James Chapin, a prominent American ornithologist who specialized in Congolese birds.
Recent molecular phylogenetic analysis led to its reclassification from the genus Muscicapa to Fraseria.
The species is highly localized, with its type locality being the Lendu Plateau in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It is currently listed as Near Threatened due to the rapid loss and fragmentation of its restricted montane forest habitat.
Unlike many other flycatchers, it is often found in the upper canopy, making it particularly difficult for birdwatchers to spot.

Habitat

Primary montane evergreen forest, specifically within the mid-stratum and canopy levels.

Range

The Albertine Rift of East-central Africa, including parts of DR Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Forest-FlycatcherFraseria ocreata Ashy FlycatcherFraseria caerulescens Gray Tit-FlycatcherFraseria plumbea Gray-throated Tit-FlycatcherFraseria griseigularis Olivaceous FlycatcherFraseria olivascens Tessmann's FlycatcherFraseria tessmanni White-browed Forest-FlycatcherFraseria cinerascens

Heard a Chapin's Flycatcher?

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