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

Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

A highly social aerial insectivore recognizable by its squared tail, buff-colored rump, and pale forehead. It is famous for building dense colonies of gourd-shaped mud nests on vertical cliffs and man-made structures.

What it sounds like

A low-pitched, metallic chattering or creaking sound consisting of squeaks, rattles, and 'zerrp' notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:46

Rec. Valerie Heemstra · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Individuals construct their nests by collecting and stacking over 1,000 individual mud pellets.
They practice conspecific brood parasitism, often laying eggs in or moving them to the nests of their neighbors.
Colonies act as information centers where birds follow successful foragers to find ephemeral insect swarms.
The species is the subject of the legendary annual return to the Mission San Juan Capistrano in California.
Research indicates urban populations have evolved shorter wings to improve takeoff maneuverability and avoid vehicle collisions.

Habitat

Open areas near water, including grasslands, agricultural fields, and canyons, often nesting under bridges.

Range

Breeds across North America from Alaska to Mexico; migrates to winter in southern South America.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulva Chestnut-collared SwallowPetrochelidon rufocollaris Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel Preuss's SwallowPetrochelidon preussi Red Sea SwallowPetrochelidon perdita Red-throated SwallowPetrochelidon rufigula South African SwallowPetrochelidon spilodera Streak-throated SwallowPetrochelidon fluvicola

Heard a Cliff Swallow?

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