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

Donaldson Smith's Nightjar

Caprimulgus donaldsoni

A small, rufous-toned nocturnal bird endemic to the arid regions of East Africa, known for its cryptic plumage and specialized desert adaptations.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched, whistled 'pi-wee-u' or 'peee-uuu,' often repeated at intervals during the night.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · EthiopiaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is among the smallest nightjar species found on the African continent, measuring only about 18 centimeters.
The species was named in honor of Arthur Donaldson Smith, an American physician and explorer who collected the type specimen.
Its plumage features a distinctive rich rufous or tawny-buff collar on the hindneck that aids in camouflage against sandy soils.
Unlike many nightjars, it lacks extensive white markings on the wings and tail, possessing only small white tips on the outer rectrices.
It is primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, using its wide gape and rictal bristles to hawk insects like moths and beetles in flight.

Habitat

Arid thorn-scrub, dry acacia savanna, and semi-desert bushland.

Range

East Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and northern Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman NightjarCaprimulgus andamanicus Bates's NightjarCaprimulgus batesi Bonaparte's NightjarCaprimulgus concretus Chirruping NightjarCaprimulgus griseatus Egyptian NightjarCaprimulgus aegyptius Eurasian NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus Fiery-necked NightjarCaprimulgus pectoralis Freckled NightjarCaprimulgus tristigma

Heard a Donaldson Smith's Nightjar?

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