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 Nightjar

Caprimulgus europaeus

A nocturnal, masterfully camouflaged insectivore that rests on the ground or along branches during the day, becoming active at dusk. It is best known for its peculiar mechanical song and highly cryptic, bark-like plumage.

What it sounds like

A continuous, mechanical, rising and falling 'churring' sound, often compared to a distant idling motorcycle engine.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Marco Mastrorilli · FranceCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Possesses specialized rictal bristles around its wide gape to assist in capturing large moths and beetles in flight.
Males perform dramatic courtship displays by clapping their wings together over their backs in mid-air to create a sharp cracking sound.
Does not build a nest, instead laying its camouflaged eggs directly on the ground among leaf litter or pine needles.
Features a reflective tapetum lucidum behind the retina, providing excellent night vision and a distinct 'eyeshine' when caught in a beam of light.
Undergoes a long-distance migration, traveling from breeding grounds in Europe and Asia to wintering sites in sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat

Open heaths, moorlands, pine barrens, and forest clearings with sandy soil.

Range

Breeds across Europe and temperate Asia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman NightjarCaprimulgus andamanicus Bates's NightjarCaprimulgus batesi Bonaparte's NightjarCaprimulgus concretus Chirruping NightjarCaprimulgus griseatus Donaldson Smith's NightjarCaprimulgus donaldsoni Egyptian NightjarCaprimulgus aegyptius Fiery-necked NightjarCaprimulgus pectoralis Freckled NightjarCaprimulgus tristigma

Heard a Eurasian Nightjar?

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