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

Gambaga Flycatcher

Muscicapa gambagae

A small, inconspicuous flycatcher of the African savanna, often overlooked due to its close resemblance to the migratory Spotted Flycatcher.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsee-tsee' call and a quiet, simple warbling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. bert de bruin · Saudi ArabiaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is distinguishable from the Spotted Flycatcher by its smaller size, shorter primary projection, and more heavily streaked crown.
The species is named after the town of Gambaga in northern Ghana, where the type specimen was collected.
It typically hunts from low, shaded perches, performing short aerial sallies to catch flying insects.
Unlike many African flycatchers, its breeding range extends into the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, specifically Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
It is a partial migrant, with populations moving north and south within Africa to follow seasonal rainfall patterns.

Habitat

Dry acacia savanna, broadleaved woodland, and rocky hillsides or inselbergs.

Range

A fragmented belt across the Sahel and East Africa, from Guinea to Ethiopia and south to Kenya, plus the southern Arabian Peninsula.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Dusky FlycatcherMuscicapa adusta Ashy-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa randi Asian Brown FlycatcherMuscicapa dauurica Brown-breasted FlycatcherMuscicapa muttui Brown-streaked FlycatcherMuscicapa williamsoni Cassin's FlycatcherMuscicapa cassini Dark-sided FlycatcherMuscicapa sibirica Ferruginous FlycatcherMuscicapa ferruginea

Heard a Gambaga Flycatcher?

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