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

Lesser Cuckoo

Cuculus poliocephalus

The Lesser Cuckoo is a small, slender brood parasite characterized by its grey upperparts and hawk-like barred underparts. It is renowned for its remarkable long-distance migration across the Indian Ocean and its culturally significant vocalizations.

What it sounds like

A loud, rhythmic, and rapidly delivered series of five or six whistling notes, famously rendered as 'hototogisu' in Japanese literature.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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Rec. Yang Li · ChinaCC BY-NC-SA Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the smallest member of the genus Cuculus, typically measuring only 25 centimeters in length.
The species is an obligate brood parasite, primarily targeting the nests of Cetti's Warblers and various leaf warblers.
Populations breeding in East Asia undertake a massive trans-oceanic migration to wintering grounds in East Africa.
Females exhibit a distinct rufous 'hepatic' morph, a polymorphism that may provide a selective advantage in avoiding host-bird aggression.
Its plumage serves as Batesian mimicry, resembling a small bird of prey to frighten hosts away from their nests during egg deposition.

Habitat

Temperate, subtropical, and montane broadleaf and coniferous forests, as well as dense woodland edges.

Range

Breeds across the Himalayas, China, and Japan; winters in East Africa, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African CuckooCuculus gularis Black CuckooCuculus clamosus Common CuckooCuculus canorus Himalayan CuckooCuculus saturatus Indian CuckooCuculus micropterus Madagascar CuckooCuculus rochii Oriental CuckooCuculus optatus Red-chested CuckooCuculus solitarius

Heard a Lesser Cuckoo?

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