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

Common Swift

Apus apus

A high-speed aerial specialist, the Common Swift is renowned for its ability to spend nearly its entire life airborne, landing only to breed.

What it sounds like

A piercing, high-pitched, monotonous 'swee-ree' scream, often heard in synchronized social groups.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:22

Rec. Astrid Cervantes · BelgiumCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Common Swifts can remain in continuous flight for up to ten months without ever touching the ground.
They perform almost all life functions in the air, including feeding, mating, and even sleeping while gliding.
The scientific name 'Apus' is Greek for 'without feet,' reflecting their tiny, specialized legs used only for clinging to vertical surfaces.
To feed their young, adults collect thousands of insects into a 'bolus' held in their throat using sticky saliva.
They are exceptionally long-lived for small birds, with some individuals recorded reaching over 20 years of age.

Habitat

Primarily aerial; nests in high crevices of old buildings, towers, cliffs, and occasionally tree hollows.

Range

Breeds across Europe and temperate Asia; migrates to wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African SwiftApus barbatus Bates's SwiftApus batesi Blyth's SwiftApus leuconyx Bradfield's SwiftApus bradfieldi Cape Verde SwiftApus alexandri Cook's SwiftApus cooki Dark-rumped SwiftApus acuticauda Forbes-Watson's SwiftApus berliozi

Heard a Common 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