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

Madagascar Cuckoo

Cuculus rochii

A slender, migratory brood parasite endemic to Madagascar during its breeding season, closely resembling the Common Cuckoo but smaller and darker.

What it sounds like

A loud, persistent, and high-pitched 'kyu-kyu-kyu-kyu' or 'koh-koh-koh-koh' usually consisting of three to five notes.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 0:48

Rec. Joost van Bruggen · MadagascarCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is an intra-African migrant, breeding in Madagascar and wintering in East and Central African countries like Kenya and DR Congo.
As an obligate brood parasite, it primarily targets the nests of the Madagascar Cisticola and the Madagascar Brush Warbler.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of insects, with a strong preference for hairy caterpillars that other bird species avoid.
Though visually similar to the Lesser Cuckoo, it is distinguished by its larger bill and more heavily barred underparts.
Juvenile plumage is distinctively scalloped with white edges on the feathers of the mantle and wings.

Habitat

Primary and secondary forests, woodland edges, and humid thickets from sea level up to 2,000 meters.

Range

Breeds across Madagascar; migrates to East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Zaire).

Similar & commonly confused birds

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

Heard a Madagascar Cuckoo?

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