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

Long-tailed Glossy Starling

Lamprotornis caudatus

A large, metallic-green starling distinguished by its exceptionally long, graduated tail and striking yellow iris.

What it sounds like

A mixture of harsh, grating squawks and more melodious, liquid whistles and chattering.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

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

Field notes

The graduated tail can measure up to 34 centimeters, accounting for more than half of the bird's total body length.
Feather iridescence is achieved through the structural arrangement of melanin granules rather than pigment alone.
This species often engages in cooperative breeding, where non-breeding individuals assist the dominant pair in chick-rearing.
Dietary habits are highly opportunistic, encompassing fruit, seeds, insects, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards.
Nesting typically occurs in tree cavities, including abandoned holes made by woodpeckers or barbets.

Habitat

Open woodland, savanna, and cultivated lands with scattered mature trees.

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically the belt from Senegal and Gambia east to Sudan and South Sudan.

Similar & commonly confused birds

African Pied StarlingLamprotornis bicolor Ashy StarlingLamprotornis unicolor Bronze-tailed StarlingLamprotornis chalcurus Burchell's StarlingLamprotornis australis Cape StarlingLamprotornis nitens Chestnut-bellied StarlingLamprotornis pulcher Emerald StarlingLamprotornis iris Fischer's StarlingLamprotornis fischeri

Heard a Long-tailed Glossy Starling?

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