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

Fischer's Starling

Lamprotornis fischeri

A distinctive, pale-headed starling of East African arid zones, characterized by its ashy-white plumage and lack of the intense iridescence seen in its relatives.

What it sounds like

A complex series of harsh, metallic chattering, rhythmic squeaks, and rasping whistles.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. isaac kilusu · TanzaniaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Named after the German explorer Gustav Fischer, who collected extensively in East Africa.
Unlike most members of the genus Lamprotornis, this species lacks structural coloration, appearing matte greyish-white rather than metallic blue or green.
The species possesses striking white to pale-yellow irises that provide a sharp contrast against its pale facial feathers.
It is a social forager, often observed on the ground in small flocks searching for insects and fallen fruit.
Nests are typically globular structures built within the protection of dense, thorny acacia branches or in tree hollows.

Habitat

Dry thorn-scrub, acacia savanna, and arid bushland.

Range

East Africa, including parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Pied StarlingLamprotornis bicolor Ashy StarlingLamprotornis unicolor Bronze-tailed StarlingLamprotornis chalcurus Burchell's StarlingLamprotornis australis Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens Chestnut-bellied StarlingLamprotornis pulcher Emerald StarlingLamprotornis iris Golden-breasted StarlingLamprotornis regius

Heard a Fischer's Starling?

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