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

Forest Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus castaneiceps

The Forest Scimitarbill is a small, slender member of the wood-hoopoe family distinguished by its decurved bill and chestnut-colored head.

What it sounds like

A rapid, descending series of high-pitched, piping whistles, typically sounding like 'kwee-kwee-kwee-kwee'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest member of the Phoeniculidae family, measuring approximately 19–21 cm in length.
Unlike the similar Common Scimitarbill, this species lacks any white markings on the wings or tail feathers.
Males exhibit a more extensive rufous-brown wash on the head and throat compared to the duller or darker females.
They are frequently found in mixed-species foraging flocks, moving quickly through the canopy to probe for invertebrates.
Their breeding biology involves nesting in tree cavities, where they are known to be monogamous and territorial.

Habitat

Lowland tropical rainforest, gallery forests, and mature secondary growth.

Range

Humid forest zones of West and Central Africa, from Sierra Leone to western Uganda.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian ScimitarbillRhinopomastus minor Black ScimitarbillRhinopomastus aterrimus Common ScimitarbillRhinopomastus cyanomelas

Heard a Forest Scimitarbill?

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