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

Larwo Shama

Copsychus omissus

The Larwo Shama, also known as the Maratua Shama, is a rare and striking songbird endemic to the Maratua Island, distinguished by its long tail and rich melodic voice.

What it sounds like

A sophisticated and loud sequence of fluid, flute-like whistles, trills, and ventriloquial notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto

Field notes

It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the White-rumped Shama before being elevated to full species status.
The species is currently listed as Critically Endangered due to intensive trapping for the songbird trade.
It displays sexual dimorphism, with males possessing more vibrant plumage and longer rectrices than females.
The bird is a master mimic, often incorporating the calls of other island species into its complex territorial songs.
Its population is confined to a tiny global range of less than 160 square kilometers.

Habitat

Primary and secondary tropical lowland evergreen forests and limestone-associated scrub.

Range

Maratua Island, located off the eastern coast of Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Andaman ShamaCopsychus albiventris Black ShamaCopsychus cebuensis Indian RobinCopsychus fulicatus Kangean ShamaCopsychus nigricauda Kangean ShamaCopsychus nigricauda Madagascar Magpie-RobinCopsychus albospecularis Maratua ShamaCopsychus barbouri Oriental Magpie-RobinCopsychus saularis

Heard a Larwo Shama?

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