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

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles bicinctus

A crepuscular, ground-dwelling bird of southern Africa, the Double-banded Sandgrouse is noted for its intricate plumage and diagnostic habit of visiting waterholes at dusk.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, melodic whistling described as 'chee-chee-chee-koo' or 'willy-wee-copy,' often heard in flight.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:17

Rec. Marc Anderson · BotswanaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males feature a bold black-and-white forehead band and a characteristic double breast band of white and black.
They possess specialized belly feathers capable of absorbing and retaining water to transport to distant chicks.
Unlike many other sandgrouse species, they are strictly crepuscular, drinking almost exclusively after sunset or before dawn.
The species is predominantly granivorous, using its short, sturdy bill to forage for small seeds on the ground.
They are typically found in pairs or small family groups rather than the large flocks common to other sandgrouse.

Habitat

Dry, open woodlands, particularly Mopane and Acacia, and stony semi-desert scrublands.

Range

Southern Africa, spanning Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northern South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-bellied SandgrousePterocles orientalis Black-faced SandgrousePterocles decoratus Burchell's SandgrousePterocles burchelli Chestnut-bellied SandgrousePterocles exustus Crowned SandgrousePterocles coronatus Four-banded SandgrousePterocles quadricinctus Lichtenstein's SandgrousePterocles lichtensteinii Madagascar SandgrousePterocles personatus

Heard a Double-banded Sandgrouse?

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Identify a bird by its song