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

Fork-tailed Palm Swift

Tachornis squamata

A slender Neotropical swift defined by its extreme specialization for life within palm trees and its deeply forked tail.

What it sounds like

A high-pitched, rapid series of dry, insect-like chips and buzzing twittering.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:03

Rec. JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · BrazilCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It glues its nest vertically to the underside of hanging palm fronds using its own saliva.
The eggs are glued directly to the nest structure to prevent them from falling during high winds.
Though deeply forked, the tail is often held tightly closed in flight, appearing needle-like.
It is an obligate palm dweller, almost never seen perching on any other substrate.
The species is known for its exceptionally rapid, erratic flight while hunting aerial insects.

Habitat

Savannas, open woodlands, and marshes featuring Moriche (Mauritia) or Carnauba (Copernicia) palms.

Range

South America east of the Andes, including the Amazon Basin, the Guianas, and Trinidad.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Antillean Palm SwiftTachornis phoenicobia Pygmy Palm SwiftTachornis furcata Pygmy Palm SwiftTachornis furcata

Heard a Fork-tailed Palm Swift?

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