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

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

A medium-sized, pale sandy-gray dove distinguished by a narrow black crescent on the nape. It is a highly successful colonizer that has rapidly expanded its range across Europe and North America in the last century.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, three-syllable 'koo-KOO-kook' with the middle syllable emphasized, often repeated several times.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:44

Rec. Christian Bøggild · SpainCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

The North American population originated from a small group of birds that escaped from a pet shop in the Bahamas in the mid-1970s.
Unlike most birds, they can drink water by submerging their beaks and sucking, rather than scooping and tilting their heads back.
They are prolific breeders, capable of raising up to six broods in a single year in warmer climates.
The species name 'decaocto' refers to a Greek myth about a mistreated servant girl who was transformed into a dove.
In flight, they are distinguished from Mourning Doves by their larger size and broad, squared-off tails with white corners.

Habitat

Urban and suburban areas, farmsteads, and orchards, typically avoiding deep forests and heavy urbanization without green space.

Range

Native to Asia and Europe; widely invasive and established across North America, Central America, and parts of North Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Adamawa Turtle-DoveStreptopelia hypopyrrha African Collared-DoveStreptopelia roseogrisea Burmese Collared-DoveStreptopelia xanthocycla Dusky Turtle-DoveStreptopelia lugens European Turtle-DoveStreptopelia turtur Mourning Collared-DoveStreptopelia decipiens Oriental Turtle-DoveStreptopelia orientalis Philippine Collared-DoveStreptopelia dusumieri

Heard a Eurasian Collared-Dove?

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