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-collared Swift

Streptoprocne rutila

A medium-sized aerial insectivore characterized by its slender build and the distinctive rufous collar found on adult males.

What it sounds like

A series of high-pitched, scratchy chattering notes and dry buzzing trills.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · EcuadorCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males possess a complete chestnut collar, while females and juveniles typically have a partial or entirely absent collar.
They are unique among swifts for nesting in moist environments, often placing nests behind waterfalls or on wet cliff faces.
Nests are built using mud, moss, and saliva to form a shelf-like structure on vertical rock surfaces.
They are highly gregarious and are frequently observed foraging in large mixed-species flocks at high altitudes.
As an aerial specialist, this species feeds, drinks, and potentially sleeps while in flight, landing only to breed or roost.

Habitat

Montane forests, deep river canyons, and moist cliff faces, often near waterfalls.

Range

Highlands of Mexico through Central America to the Andes of South America and parts of Trinidad.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Biscutate SwiftStreptoprocne biscutata Tepui SwiftStreptoprocne phelpsi White-collared SwiftStreptoprocne zonaris White-naped SwiftStreptoprocne semicollaris White-naped SwiftStreptoprocne semicollaris

Heard a Chestnut-collared Swift?

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