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

Himalayan Swiftlet

Aerodramus brevirostris

The Himalayan Swiftlet is a medium-sized, aerial insectivore recognized for its ability to navigate pitch-black nesting caves using echolocation.

What it sounds like

High-pitched, twittering 'chit-chit' notes and rapid, rattling metallic clicks used for acoustic orientation.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:25

Rec. Bo Shunqi 薄顺奇 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is one of the few bird species capable of echolocation, utilizing low-frequency clicks to fly in total darkness.
Unlike 'white-nest' relatives, it builds 'black nests' comprised of feathers, moss, and vegetation cemented with limited saliva.
The species is highly gregarious, often foraging in large, mixed-species flocks alongside other swifts and swallows.
Himalayan populations are partial migrants, descending to lower altitudes or moving toward Southeast Asia during winter.
It possesses a characteristic shallowly forked tail and long, narrow wings designed for continuous, high-speed flight.

Habitat

Montane forests, river valleys, and deep limestone caves for roosting and breeding.

Range

The Himalayas from India and Nepal through southern China and into Southeast Asia including Myanmar and Thailand.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Ameline SwiftletAerodramus amelis Atiu SwiftletAerodramus sawtelli Australian SwiftletAerodramus terraereginae Bare-legged SwiftletAerodramus nuditarsus Black-nest SwiftletAerodramus maximus Caroline Islands SwiftletAerodramus inquietus Indian SwiftletAerodramus unicolor Mariana SwiftletAerodramus bartschi

Heard a Himalayan Swiftlet?

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