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

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

A large, dark nightjar specifically adapted for life on rocky outcrops, featuring intricate, speckled plumage that provides near-perfect camouflage against granite.

What it sounds like

A clear, whistled 'whelp-whelp' or 'ow-whitt', often compared to the sound of a puppy yelping, usually delivered from a rocky perch.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Bram Vogels · NamibiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is a habitat specialist that is almost exclusively associated with rocky inselbergs, scree slopes, and boulder-strewn hills.
Unlike most other nightjars that nest on leaf litter, this species lays its eggs directly onto bare rock surfaces.
The species name 'tristigma' refers to the three distinct white spots typically found on its outer primary feathers.
Its plumage is significantly darker than most other African nightjars, evolved specifically to mimic the shadows and textures of volcanic and granitic rock.
It is largely sedentary, often returning to the exact same square meter of rock to roost every day for several years.

Habitat

Granite outcrops, inselbergs, rocky hillsides, and occasionally flat volcanic rock pavements in wooded savannas.

Range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea and Ethiopia south to the northern provinces of South Africa.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman NightjarCaprimulgus andamanicus Bates's NightjarCaprimulgus batesi Bonaparte's NightjarCaprimulgus concretus Chirruping NightjarCaprimulgus griseatus Donaldson Smith's NightjarCaprimulgus donaldsoni Egyptian NightjarCaprimulgus aegyptius Eurasian NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus Fiery-necked NightjarCaprimulgus pectoralis

Heard a Freckled Nightjar?

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