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

Hawaii Elepaio

Chasiempis sandwichensis

A bold and inquisitive monarch flycatcher endemic to the Big Island of Hawaii, often seen cocking its tail at a steep angle.

What it sounds like

A loud, whistled 'e-le-PAI-o' along with sharp 'whit' notes and raspy, scolding chattered sequences.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Dan Lane · United StatesCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

In Hawaiian tradition, it is the goddess of canoe makers; if the bird pecked a fallen tree, the wood was deemed too insect-ridden for a canoe.
It is the only native Hawaiian forest bird currently showing significant evolutionary resistance to introduced avian malaria and pox.
The species is highly territorial and will aggressively chase away much larger birds, including hawks, from its nesting site.
Juveniles sport a distinct rufous-brown plumage that differs significantly from the white, grey, and black patterns of adults.
It frequently follows humans or feral pigs through the forest to snatch insects stirred up by their movement through the underbrush.

Habitat

Primary and secondary montane forests, specifically 'Ohi'a and Koa-dominated woodlands.

Range

Endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Kauai ElepaioChasiempis sclateri Oahu ElepaioChasiempis ibidis

Heard a Hawaii Elepaio?

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