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

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

A large, terrestrial gamebird distinguished by its slate-gray plumage with white spots and a prominent bony casque atop a featherless head.

What it sounds like

A loud, persistent, and metallic 'buck-wheat, buck-wheat' or a harsh, staccato rasping rattle.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Kileo Jumah · TanzaniaCC0 Xeno-canto

Field notes

The distinctive bony 'helmet' or casque on its head is thought to help with heat regulation or as a signal of age and dominance.
They are highly social birds that form large, noisy flocks known as 'confusions' outside of the breeding season.
Primarily ground-dwelling, they prefer running from predators but are capable of powerful, albeit short-distance, flight.
They play a crucial ecological role as pest controllers, consuming vast numbers of ticks, locusts, and other insects.
The bare facial skin and wattles can flush with color, reflecting the bird's physiological state or level of excitement.

Habitat

Open savannas, grasslands, scrublands, and edges of agricultural fields.

Range

Native to Sub-Saharan Africa; widely introduced to the Americas, Europe, and Australia.

Heard a Helmeted Guineafowl?

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