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

Cryptic Flycatcher

Ficedula crypta

The Cryptic Flycatcher is a small, unobtrusive passerine endemic to the montane forests of Mindanao. It is characterized by its remarkably plain, olive-brown plumage and its tendency to remain hidden in dense undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A series of very thin, high-pitched, sibilant 'tsee' notes that are often difficult for the human ear to locate.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:32

Rec. Hans Matheve · PhilippinesCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Its specific epithet 'crypta' is derived from the Greek word for 'hidden,' aptly describing its elusive and secretive behavior.
Unlike many other members of the Ficedula genus, this species lacks bright colors, wing bars, or distinct facial markings.
It is primarily found in the dark, lower strata of the forest, rarely venturing into the sunlit canopy or open edges.
The species is often overlooked during surveys because it is frequently silent and remains motionless for long periods.
It is closely related to the Bundok Flycatcher but occupies a distinct ecological niche in the high-elevation mossy forests of the southern Philippines.

Habitat

Primary montane forest and damp, mossy forest undergrowth between 700 and 1,500 meters.

Range

Endemic to the island of Mindanao, Philippines.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Atlas FlycatcherFicedula speculigera Black-and-orange FlycatcherFicedula nigrorufa Black-banded FlycatcherFicedula timorensis Bundok FlycatcherFicedula luzoniensis Cinnamon-chested FlycatcherFicedula buruensis Collared FlycatcherFicedula albicollis Damar FlycatcherFicedula henrici European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca

Heard a Cryptic Flycatcher?

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