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

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

A small, long-tailed dove known for its pinkish-cinnamon plumage and a unique checkered collar of black and rufous feathers.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, five-syllable 'oo-too-too-hoo-hoo' with a rising and falling cadence.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Peter Boesman · SenegalCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Named for its distinctive call that resembles a low-pitched, bubbling human laugh.
Unlike many woodland doves, it is highly commensal with humans and frequently nests on building ledges and in potted plants.
Both parents produce 'crop milk,' a nutrient-rich secretion from the esophagus used to feed their young.
Engages in a steep upward display flight followed by a downward glide with wings and tail spread wide.
While primarily sedentary, populations in arid zones may move nomadically in response to localized rainfall and seed availability.

Habitat

Dry scrubland, savanna, farmland, and urban gardens; avoids dense forests.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, and introduced to Western Australia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis

Heard a Laughing Dove?

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