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 Starling

Lamprotornis pulcher

A gregarious African starling characterized by its striking contrast of metallic blue-green upperparts and a rich chestnut-brown belly.

What it sounds like

A noisy, communal mix of harsh grating sounds, squeaks, and more musical warbling notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Étienne Leroy · Burkina FasoCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Lives in stable, cooperative social groups that forage and defend territory together.
Constructs large, untidy globular nests usually placed in the safety of thorny acacia trees.
Displays a distinctive pale creamy-white iris that stands out against its dark facial plumage.
Utilizes a cooperative breeding system where non-breeding 'helpers' assist the primary pair in feeding chicks.
Highly terrestrial for a starling, frequently seen running or hopping across the ground in search of insects and seeds.

Habitat

Arid savanna, thorn-scrub, and semi-desert bushland.

Range

The Sahel region of Africa, extending from Senegal and Mauritania east to Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Pied StarlingLamprotornis bicolor Ashy StarlingLamprotornis unicolor Bronze-tailed StarlingLamprotornis chalcurus Burchell's StarlingLamprotornis australis Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens Emerald StarlingLamprotornis iris Fischer's StarlingLamprotornis fischeri Golden-breasted StarlingLamprotornis regius

Heard a Chestnut-bellied Starling?

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