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

Fairy Martin

Petrochelidon ariel

A small, gregarious swallow endemic to Australia, easily identified by its rufous crown and the construction of distinctive, flask-shaped mud nests.

What it sounds like

A soft, musical twittering song and a sharp, high-pitched 'peep' contact call.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

Constructs unique bottle-shaped mud nests with long entrance tunnels, leading to the common name 'bottle swallow'.
Highly colonial breeders, they often cluster hundreds of nests together on cliffs, culverts, or under bridges.
Southern populations are migratory, moving to northern Australia and occasionally New Guinea during the austral winter.
Distinguishable from the similar Tree Martin by its bright rufous crown and more prominent white rump.
Primarily aerial insectivores, they are often observed foraging in large, low-flying flocks over water or grasslands.

Habitat

Open country near water, including grasslands and woodlands, often utilizing man-made structures for nesting.

Range

Mainland Australia, with occasional records in Tasmania and New Guinea.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulva Chestnut-collared SwallowPetrochelidon rufocollaris Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota Preuss's SwallowPetrochelidon preussi Red Sea SwallowPetrochelidon perdita Red-throated SwallowPetrochelidon rufigula South African SwallowPetrochelidon spilodera Streak-throated SwallowPetrochelidon fluvicola

Heard a Fairy Martin?

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Identify a bird by its song