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

Costa Rican Swift

Chaetura fumosa

A small, sooty-colored swift with a distinct pale rump, known for its rapid, erratic flight patterns over tropical forest canopies.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of twittering chips and chattering notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:01

Rec. Peter Boesman · Costa RicaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was historically classified as a subspecies of Chapman's Swift before being elevated to full species status.
The species name 'fumosa' translates to 'smoky' in Latin, referencing its dark, charcoal-colored plumage.
It typically nests in hollow trees, using saliva to glue twigs to the interior vertical surfaces.
Despite its name, its range extends beyond Costa Rica into Panama and parts of Colombia.
In flight, it displays the characteristic 'cigar with wings' silhouette common to the Chaetura genus.

Habitat

Humid lowland forests, edges, and partially cleared areas.

Range

Southwestern Costa Rica, Panama, and extreme northwestern Colombia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ashy-tailed SwiftChaetura andrei Band-rumped SwiftChaetura spinicaudus Chapman's SwiftChaetura chapmani Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica Gray-rumped SwiftChaetura cinereiventris Lesser Antillean SwiftChaetura martinica Pale-rumped SwiftChaetura egregia Short-tailed SwiftChaetura brachyura

Heard a Costa Rican 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