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

Gray Ground-Thrush

Geokichla princei

The Gray Ground-Thrush is a reclusive, forest-dwelling passerine characterized by its cryptic plumage and terrestrial habits. It is a shy species typically found foraging in the leaf litter of primary African rainforests.

What it sounds like

A sequence of high-pitched, thin whistles and reedy notes, occasionally interspersed with short, sharp 'tuck' or 'tsee' sounds.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Peter Boesman · UgandaCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It features two distinct white wing bars formed by the white tips of its greater and median coverts.
The species displays a striking black-and-white striped pattern on its underwings, which is highly visible during flight.
Its diet consists primarily of earthworms, insects, and other small invertebrates found by tossing dead leaves.
It is divided into two geographically separated subspecies: the nominate 'princei' in West Africa and 'batesi' in Central Africa.
Due to its extremely secretive nature and preference for dense undergrowth, it remains one of the less-studied thrushes in its range.

Habitat

Dense primary lowland rainforest, often in swampy areas or near watercourses with thick undergrowth.

Range

Fragmented range across West and Central Africa, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, DRC, and Uganda.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Abyssinian Ground-ThrushGeokichla piaggiae Ashy ThrushGeokichla cinerea Black-eared Ground-ThrushGeokichla camaronensis Buru ThrushGeokichla dumasi Chestnut-backed ThrushGeokichla dohertyi Chestnut-capped ThrushGeokichla interpres Crossley's Ground-ThrushGeokichla crossleyi Enggano ThrushGeokichla leucolaema

Heard a Gray Ground-Thrush?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

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