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

Dark-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus melacoryphus

A medium-sized, secretive Neotropical cuckoo distinguished by its entirely black bill, lead-gray crown, and warm buff underparts.

What it sounds like

A series of low, guttural 'kuk-kuk-kuk' notes that often transition into a slower, rhythmic 'kow-kow-kow'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Unlike many Old World relatives, this species is not a brood parasite and builds its own shallow platform nest of twigs.
It is an austral migrant, with southern populations moving north toward the Amazon Basin during the southern hemisphere's winter.
Its diet primarily consists of large, hairy caterpillars, which it can eat in large quantities thanks to a specialized stomach lining.
The species is often called a 'Rainbird' in local folklore because its vocalizations are thought to predict approaching storms.
It is frequently confused with the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but is smaller and lacks the bright yellow lower mandible and rufous wing patches.

Habitat

Open woodlands, scrubby thickets, deciduous forests, and suburban gardens.

Range

Widespread across South America, from Colombia and the Guianas south to central Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Bay-breasted CuckooCoccyzus rufigularis Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus Chestnut-bellied CuckooCoccyzus pluvialis Cocos CuckooCoccyzus ferrugineus Gray-capped CuckooCoccyzus lansbergi Great Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus merlini Hispaniolan Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus longirostris Jamaican Lizard-CuckooCoccyzus vetula

Heard a Dark-billed Cuckoo?

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