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

Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo

Coccyzus pluvialis

The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is a large, distinctive Jamaican endemic known for its rufous underparts and non-parasitic nesting habits.

What it sounds like

A series of loud, guttural 'ku-ku-ku-ku' notes followed by harsh, croaking or rasping sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:13

Rec. Bobby Wilcox · JamaicaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the largest species of cuckoo in the West Indies, measuring up to 56 centimeters in length.
Known locally as the 'Old Man Bird' or 'Rainbird,' it is culturally associated with the arrival of rain.
Unlike many cuckoo species, it is not a brood parasite; it builds its own stick nest and raises its own chicks.
Its diet is diverse and predatory, consisting of large insects, caterpillars, and small vertebrates like lizards and frogs.
Taxonomically, it was previously placed in its own genus, Hyetornis, before being moved to Coccyzus.

Habitat

Humid lowland and montane forests, as well as secondary growth and wooded hillsides.

Range

Endemic to the island of Jamaica.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bay-breasted CuckooCoccyzus rufigularis Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus Cocos CuckooCoccyzus ferrugineus Dark-billed CuckooCoccyzus melacoryphus Gray-capped CuckooCoccyzus lansbergi Great Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus merlini Hispaniolan Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus longirostris Jamaican Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus vetula

Heard a Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo?

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