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

Four-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles quadricinctus

A medium-sized, crepuscular ground bird characterized by the striking black, white, and maroon breast bands found on the males. It is highly adapted to arid environments and is best known for its ritualized evening flights to watering holes.

What it sounds like

A liquid, whistled 'tweet-too-hoo' or 'wit-g-wick', frequently emitted during flight to and from watering holes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Albert Vrielink · GambiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Males feature a distinct sequence of maroon, white, black, and buff bands across the chest, whereas females are more uniformly barred for camouflage.
They possess specialized belly feathers capable of absorbing and retaining water, allowing males to transport moisture over long distances to their chicks.
Predominantly crepuscular, these birds remain largely inactive during the heat of the day and become highly vocal and active at dusk.
The species is highly gregarious when visiting water sources, often congregating in flocks of several hundred individuals at specific drinking sites.
Nesting occurs in a shallow scrape on the bare ground, where the cryptic coloration of the sitting parent makes them nearly invisible to predators.

Habitat

Dry savanna, semi-desert scrub, and open bushy woodland, usually within flying distance of permanent water.

Range

The Sahel and northern sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and northwestern Kenya.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Black-bellied SandgrousePterocles orientalis Black-faced SandgrousePterocles decoratus Burchell's SandgrousePterocles burchelli Chestnut-bellied SandgrousePterocles exustus Crowned SandgrousePterocles coronatus Double-banded SandgrousePterocles bicinctus Lichtenstein's SandgrousePterocles lichtensteinii Madagascar SandgrousePterocles personatus

Heard a Four-banded Sandgrouse?

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