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

Large-tailed Dove

Leptotila megalura

The Large-tailed Dove is a shy, terrestrial columbid native to the humid montane forests of the southern Andes. It is recognized by its namesake long tail and its preference for foraging silently within dense undergrowth.

What it sounds like

A low-pitched, mournful, and hollow two-noted 'hooo-wooo', with the second note slightly lower and longer.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 1:41

Rec. Niels Krabbe · ArgentinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

Its specific epithet, megalura, is derived from the Greek words for 'large' and 'tail,' distinguishing it from its shorter-tailed congeners.
The species was previously considered a subspecies of the White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) before being elevated to full species status.
Unlike many other doves, it is highly elusive and is far more frequently heard than seen.
It is a characteristic inhabitant of the Yungas bioregion, an ecological transition zone along the eastern Andean slopes.
When flushed, it typically flies a short distance with a low, whirring wing-beat before disappearing back into the forest floor cover.

Habitat

Moist montane forests, forest borders, and older secondary growth.

Range

Southern Bolivia to northwestern Argentina.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Caribbean DoveLeptotila jamaicensis Gray-chested DoveLeptotila cassinii Gray-fronted DoveLeptotila rufaxilla Gray-headed DoveLeptotila plumbeiceps Grenada DoveLeptotila wellsi Ochre-bellied DoveLeptotila ochraceiventris Pallid DoveLeptotila pallida Tolima DoveLeptotila conoveri

Heard a Large-tailed Dove?

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