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

Klaas's Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx klaas

A small, brilliantly colored African cuckoo known for its striking sexual dimorphism and obligate brood parasitism.

What it sounds like

A clear, whistled two-note sequence often transcribed as 'whit-jie' or 'meit-jie', repeated at regular intervals.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:03

Rec. Brendan Sloan · Sierra LeoneCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

The species was named by explorer François Levaillant in honor of his Khoikhoi servant, Klaas, who collected the type specimen.
Males display vibrant metallic green upperparts, while females are predominantly brownish-bronze with fine barring.
It is a brood parasite that targets over 40 different host species, most notably sunbirds and sylviid warblers.
The female typically removes one of the host's eggs before laying a single egg of her own to avoid detection.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of insects, with a strong preference for caterpillars and butterflies.

Habitat

Wooded savannas, riverine forests, forest edges, and well-wooded suburban gardens.

Range

Widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the most arid desert regions.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Emerald CuckooChrysococcyx cupreus Asian Emerald CuckooChrysococcyx maculatus Dideric CuckooChrysococcyx caprius Violet CuckooChrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Yellow-throated CuckooChrysococcyx flavigularis

Heard a Klaas's Cuckoo?

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