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

Frances's Sparrowhawk

Tachyspiza francesiae

A small, highly adaptable raptor endemic to the Madagascar region, characterized by its striking sexual dimorphism and opportunistic hunting habits.

What it sounds like

A rapid, high-pitched series of shrill notes described as 'kee-kee-kee' or 'whit-whit-whit'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the most common and widely distributed bird of prey found throughout Madagascar.
The species exhibits pronounced sexual dichromatism; males feature slate-grey upperparts while females are distinctly brown.
Unlike many specialized raptors, its diet heavily features chameleons and geckos alongside insects and small birds.
The scientific name honors Lady Frances Cole, the wife of a 19th-century governor of Mauritius.
Island-specific subspecies exist, such as the Anjouan Sparrowhawk (T. f. pusillus), which is significantly smaller than the mainland variety.

Habitat

Occupies diverse environments including primary rainforests, deciduous woodlands, plantations, and suburban gardens.

Range

Endemic to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands.

Similar & commonly confused birds

BesraTachyspiza virgata Black-mantled GoshawkTachyspiza melanochlamys Brown GoshawkTachyspiza fasciata Chinese SparrowhawkTachyspiza soloensis Collared SparrowhawkTachyspiza cirrocephala Fiji GoshawkTachyspiza rufitorques Gray GoshawkTachyspiza novaehollandiae Gray-headed GoshawkTachyspiza poliocephala

Heard a Frances's Sparrowhawk?

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